, 


e.c. 


" 


Mr.  Outwright  was  a  welcome  caller  everywhere.     I'age  64. 


AN  ODD  FELLOW 

A  TALE   OF  TO-DAY 


BY 

CARLISLE  B.  HOLDING 

Author  of  "THK  LITTLE  CORPORAL,"  "THE  COLONEL'S  CHARGE,' 
"  HER  BUN,"  "  IN  His  OWN  WAY,"  Etc. 


CINCINNATI:    JENNINGS    &    PYE 
NEW    YORK: EATON    &     MAINS 


COPYRIGHT 
KY  CK.ANSTON  &  CURTS. 


CONTENTS. 


FACE. 

L  STARTING  A  NEW  PAPER, 5 

IL  LOVE'S  VOTING  DREAM, 19 

nL  THE  TRUTH, 29 

IV.  FOREWARNED, 36 

V.  ONE  DEGREE  HIGHER, 50 

VL  Two  ODD  FELLOWS, 63 

VII.  IN  THE  TOILS, 76 

VTH.  THE  BURGLAR  CAUGHT, 89 

IX.  THE  SELECT  SCHOOL, 109 

X.  A  PLAUSIBLE  PLEA, 121 

XI.  CONSIDERING  THE  EVIDENCE, 133 

XII.  A  FLOOD  OF  LIGHT 141 

XIIL  PLOTTING  MISCHIEF, 153 

XIV.  BUILDING  ON  THE  SAND 161 

XV.  A  PLEASANT  PRISON, 169 

XVI.  BITTER-SWEET 180 

XVTL  CROSS  PURPOSES, 188 

xvin.  THE  PRAYER  MEETING, 197 

XIX.  EXPLANATIONS, 210 

XX.  MR.  CHRISTIE, 220 

XXI.  A  POLITICAL  SCHEME, 229 

XXIT.  A  STRANGE  DISAPPEARANCF 238 

xxrn.  PLOTS 246 

XXTV.  TEMPERANCE  MEETING 262 

XXV.  APPEARANCES  DECEITFUL, 269 

3 


2136043   * 


4  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE. 

XXVL  VIEWS  AND  INTERVIEWS 279 

XXVIL  A  PROPOSAL  OF  MARRIAGE, 290 

XXVIH.  AN  UNDATED  PAIR 301 

XXIX.  THE  CONVENTION 310 

XXX.  JENNIE  JESSUP, 326 

XXXL  Two  CAIXS) 335 

XXXIL  SEARCHING  THE  RECORDS, 343 

XXXm.  AN  UNEXPECTED  RETURN, 355 

XXXI V.  THE  DAY-DAWN, 363 

XXXV.  MISHAPS  AND  HAPS, 373 

XXXVL  A  DOUBWS  ACCIDENT, 385 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


MR.  OOTWRICHT  WAS  A  WEIXX»ME  CAU,ER  EVERY- 
WHERE,   Frontispiece. 

"  NEVER  YOU  BOND  DAN.     LEAVE  HIM  TO  ME,"  SAID 

THE  CHIEF  OP  POLICE, .*..    41 

"WHY,  WHAT  HAS  HAPPENED  NOW?"  SHE  ASKED,  IN 
SOBERED  EARNESTNESS, 143 

"  NOW,  WHAT,  MOTHER  ?"  SHE  SAID,  TURNING  ROUND  ON 
THE  STOOI,  TO  FACE  MRS.  JESSUP 2IO 

"  HEW.O,  SETH!"  THADDEUS  BXCXAIMJSD, 275 


AN  ODD  FELLOW. 


i. 

STARTING  A  NEW  PAPER. 

"  TUDGE,  don't  you  know  I  am  getting  aw- 
^  fully  tired,  do  n't  you  know,  of  the  poky 
way  the  Gazette  is  run,  hey  ?" 

"I  believe  I  have  heard  you  say  so  before," 
Judge  Tracy  replied,  with  a  smile. 

"  Well,  do  n't  you  know,  if  a  few  of  us  fel- 
lows, do  n't  you  know,  should  chip  in  a  hundred 
or  two  all  around,  do  n't  you  know,  we  could 
get  up  a  respectable  paper — something  Bram- 
bleville  would  be  proud  of,  do  n't  you  know, 
hey?" 

"  Perhaps  so,  Thompson ;  but  who  would 
edit  it  ?" 

"  Never  mind  that.  Do  n't  you  know  there 
are  plenty  of  young  fellows — bright  young 
scamps — who  would  make  things  hum,  do  n't 
you  know,  if  we  would  give  them  a  chance, 
hey  ?  Do  n't  you  know,  we  need  n't  go  very 
far  fro  in  the  Gazette  office  to  find  one,  either, 

5 


6  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

do  n't  you  know?  Now,  there  is  Throckmorton, 
do  n't  you  know?" 

"  Perhaps,  Thompson ;  but  Brambleville  has 
as  many  papers  now  as  it  can  support ;  more, 
in  fact,  than  it  needs.  How  they  all  live  is  a 
mystery  to  me." 

"  But,  do  n't  you  know,  there  is  n't  a  decent 
paper  in  the  whole  lot,  don't  you  know?  If  we 
had  a  paper  with  snap  and  sparkle,  do  n't  you 
know,  all  the  others  would  die  out,  do  n't  you 
know — a  survival  of  the  fittest,  do  n't  you  know, 
is  about  what  it  would  amount  to,  do  n't  you 
know?" 

"Then,  what  would  become  of  the  other  fel- 
lows, Captain  ?  Old  Uncle  Monmoskin  has  been 
in  the  business  here  ever  since  long  before  the 
war." 

"So  he  has ;  and  to  tell  you  the  truth,  Judge, 
he  has  stuck  to  Brambleville;  and,  as  for  that, 
Brambleville  has  stuck  to  him,  do  n't  you  know? 
But  he  is  a  fossil,  do  n't  you  know  ?" 

"There  comes  Charlie  Christie.  I  know  his 
jump  on  the  stairs.  He  usually  comes  up  two 
or  three  steps  at  a  time.  See  what  he  will  say 
about  it,"  the  judge  said,  eying  the  door. 

"Charlie  is  pretty  spry,  don't  you  know,  for 
one  of  his  age?  But  say,  Judge,  they  tell  it  on 
Charlie  that  he  has  a  soft  spot  for  a  relative  of 
yours,  do  n't  you  know,  and  is  spryer  than  usual, 


STARTING  A  NEW  PAPER.  ^ 

do  n't  you  know,  trying  to  discount  forty-odd 
years,  don't  you  know?"  the  captain  replied, 
teasingly. 

"He  is  not  coming  here.  Stopped  in  the 
first  office,  I  guess." 

"  He  did,  did  he  ?  That  settles  it !  Do  n't 
you  know,  gossip  says  that  Mr.  Lysander  is  not 
averse  to  the  matter,  do  n't  you  know?"  the  cap- 
tain persisted. 

"  Mr.  Lysander  ?  Not  averse  ?  I  do  not  un- 
derstand you,  Captain." 

"Why,  Charlie  is  courting  the  eldest  daugh- 
ter, to  be  plain  about  it." 

"  That  child  ?     Here  he  comes  now." 

"  How  are  you,  Judge  ?  Good-morning,  Cap- 
tain !  Fine  day  again !  Remarkable  weather, 
all  in  all !  Ought  to  please  everybody  1  Ha ! 
ha!  ha!" 

"Glad  to  see  you!  Have  a  chair,  Charlie. 
We  were  just  wishing  you  would  come  in." 

"Thanks,  Judge.  O!  ah!  Wanted  to  see 
me  ?  Then  I  am  not  interrupting  you,  Judge? — 
Captain  ?  Do  n't  let  me,  I  beg  you."  Charlie 
bowed  to  each  profoundly,  and  took  the  offered 
chair. 

"No;  no  interruption,  Charlie.  No  one  ever 
interrupts  me,  you  know."  Saying  this,  the 
judge  lighted  another  cigar. 

"Thanks  1     O !  ah  !    I  was  just  thinking  of — 


8  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

ah ! — a  scheme  that  might  be  worked  to  our 
mutual  benefit  Ha!  ha!  ha!  I  tell  you, 
Judge — and  Captain — I  do  n't  know — ha  1  ha  ! — 
how  you  stand,  either  of  you,  on  the  subject ; 
but  Uncle  Monmoskin  has  been  a  very  good 
editor — ha !  ha ! — in  his  day — that  is  to  say,  be- 
fore the  war — ha  !  ha !  But  times  have  changed 
since  then — hal  ha! — and  you  must  have  no- 
ticed how  awfully  dry  the  Gazette  is." 

"The  very  thing,  don't  you  know,  Charlie^ 
I  was  just  saying  to  the  judge,  do  n't  you  know, 
when  we  heard  you  coming  up  the  steps,  do  n't 
you  know?" 

"  Coming  up  the  steps !  Ha !  ha  !  ha !  That 's 
pretty  good.  Do  you  recognize — O  !  ah  ! — any- 
thing peculiar  in  my  coming  up  the  steps? 
Ha!  ha!" 

"  We  all  have  our  peculiarities,  do  n't  you 
know,  Charlie?"  the  captain  said,  soothingly. 
"And  when  you  come  up  the  steps,  don't  you 
know,  you  come  like  thunder,  do  n't  you  know, 
Charlie — two  steps  at  one  time,  do  n't  you  know? 
A  body  would  n't  think  it,  either,  seeing,  do  n't 
you  know,  the  gray  hairs — an  occasional  gray 
hair — don't  you  know?" 

"Early  piety,  Captain — O!  ah! — but — ha! 
ha  I  ha  ! — I  do  n't  walk  on  my  head  !  It  is  n't 
coming  up-stairs  two  steps  at  a  time  that  makes 
gray  hairs !" 


STARTING  A  NEW  PAPER.  9 

"But,  say,  don't  you  know,  we  must  have 
another  paper.  Uncle  Monmoskin  has  outlived 
his  day,  do  n't  you  know  ?  And,  say,  Charlie, 
do  n't  you  know,  I  believe  the  judge,  here,  is 
with  us,  do  n't  you  know  ?" 

The  judge  smiled  broadly,  turned  his  chair 
toward  the  window,  and  watched  the  clouds  go 
by,  saying  nothing. 

"Silence — ha!  ha! — gives  consent,  Judge — 
ha !  ha  ! — and  we — ah  ! — well,  we  know  you  will 
help  us  out.  Ha  !  ha !  ha  ! 

"  Have  you  spoken  to  any  one  else  about  it?" 
he  asked,  wheeling  about  to  face  them  again. 

"No,  Judge ;  for — ah ! — to  tell  you  the  truth — 
ha!  ha ! — I  knew  it  was  n't  much  use  to  talk  it 
up,  unless  you  were  in  it.  Ha !  ha !  ha  1  You 
know — ah  ! — how  that  is,  yourself." 

"It  doesn't  matter  much  about  me,"  Judge 
Tracy  said,  modestly,  though  he  knew  it  all 
rested  with  him ;  for  while  others  would  give 
their  money,  he  must  give  the  scheme  stability 
by  his  hearty  indorsement.  Indeed,  only  a  lew 
could  be  induced  to  act  independently  of  him 
in  any  public  or  private  enterprise. 

"  But,  do  n't  you  know,  it  makes  all  the  dif- 
ference in  the  world,  do  n't  you  know,  whether 
you  are  with  us  or  not,  do  n't  you  know  ?  Of 
course,  you  know  it !" 

"Suppose  you  call  Simon  up;    and  send  for 


10  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

Major  Morrison.  We  might  have  a  little  talk 
about  it,  whatever  we  do,"  he  suggested,  quietly. 

"  I  will  go  right  off — ah  ! — if  you  will  wait 
here,  Captain.  I  will  be  back  in  ten  minutes, 
or  less,  with  Simon  and  the  major,  too.  They 
are  both  in  Simon's  store.  Ha!  ha!  ha!  Judge, 
I  see  you  are  with  us — ha !  ha ! — and  the  scheme 
is  bound  to  win.  Ha !  ha !  ha  !" 

Mr.  Christie  bounded  out  of  the  room,  and 
his  feet  beat  the  long-roll  on  the  stairs  as  they 
rattled  down  to  the  street. 

"By  the  way,  Captain,  did  you  find  a  buyer 
for  that  house  and  lot  on  Cherry  Street  ?" 

"  Not  yet,  Judge.  The  fact  is,  do  n't  you 
know,  I  am  not  anxious  to  sell,  even  at  that 
figure?  Everybody  seems  to  be  in  a  selling 
mood,  do  n't  you  know  ?  Guess  I  will  keep  that 
piece,  and  buy  next  to  it,  do  n't  you  know,  and 
hold  for  a  rise,  do  n't  you  know  ?" 

"I  thought  you  and  Charlie  were  on  a  trade 
for  the  Wentworth  property." 

"We  were,  don't  you  know;  but  Charlie  is 
going  to  build  an  extension  to  his  drug-store, 
do  n't  you  know,  so  as  to  have  entrances  on 
both  streets,  do  n't  you  know,  and  he  backed 
out,  don't  you  know?  Glad  he  did,  for  I  will 
take  it  all  myself.  A  smashing  good  piece  of 
property,  do  n't  you  know,  that  Wentworth  cor- 
ner is?" 


STARTING  A  NEW  PAPER.  \ I 

"Pretty  soon  you  will  own  all  the  town, 
Captain." 

"Guess  not,  Judge.  I  am  only  picking  up 
what  other  folks  throw  away,  do  n't  you  know  ? 
Can't  blame  me  for  that — nobody  can,  do  n't 
you  know?" 

Then  they  puffed  their  cigars  in  silence,  and 
waited. 

"  They  are  coming !     Hear  Charlie's  laugh !" 

"Simon  is  telling  one  of  his  funny  stories, 
do  n't  you  know?  The  only  funny  thing  about 
Simon's  stories,  do  n't  you  know,  is  Simon  him- 
self, and  his  innocent  laugh,  do  n't  you  know  ?" 

"  Pretty  good  Jew,  for  all  that." 

"Judge,  I  wish  we  had  just  a  thousand  Jews 
like  Simon  in  Brambleville,  do  n't  you  know  ?" 

"Very  few  like  him." 

"The  last  of  his  tribe,  don't  you  know,  and 
no  one  to  take  his  wealth  when  he  is  gone, 
do  n't  you  know? — not  a  chick  or  child,  and  no 
near  kin." 

"Can't  buy  that  block  of  stores  of  him,  I 
guess  ?" 

"Not  for  twice  its  value,  don't  you  know? 
Simon  is  queer  about  some  things,  do  n't  you 
know,  and  will  not  sell  a  foot  of  Brambleville 
property,  don't  you  know?" 

"And  buys  all  he  can  get?" 

"Yes;  and,  don't  you  know,  he  learned  that 


12  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

trick  of  me,  don't  you  know?  I  happened  to 
tell  him  one  day,  do  n't  you  know,  something 
about  my  scheme ;  and  here  he  goes,  do  n't  you 
know,  and  beats  me  at  my  own  game,  do  n't 
you  know?  A  sly  coon  is  Simon,  Judge." 

"Sly?  Yes,  but  in  the  better  sense.  He 
would  not  take  advantage  of  a  child.  He  is 
perfectly  transparent  in  his  dealings ;  but  shrewd, 
nevertheless." 

"Well,  here  we  are,  Judge.  Ha!  ha!  ha! 
And,  what  do  you  think?  They  were  actually 
talking  about  the  same  thing ;  that  is — O  !  ah  !— 
they  were  lamenting  the  lack  of  a  paper  in 
Brambleville  that  is  up  to  the  mark  and  the 
times — ha !  ha  ! — as  it  were,  when  I  went  after 
them." 

"Indeed !     That  is  quite  a  coincidence." 

"I  didn't  tell  you,  Simon,  and  Major,"  with 
a  nod  toward  each,  "  what — O  !  ah  ! — the  judge 
wanted  with  you  ;  but  you  see,  we — ah  ! — that 
is,  the  captain  and  myself — were  just  discussing 
the  question  of — ah  !  well — you  know,  the  Ga- 
zette !  It  is  antiquated — ha  !  ha  ! — and — O  ! 
ah ! — we  thought  another  paper  might  be 
started  to  represent  Brambleville  progress  and 
position  ;  and  we — ah  ! — that  is,  Judge  Tracy 
here — suggested  that  we  get  together,  and  talk 
it  over — ha !  ha ! — so  I  went  for  you — ha  !  ha ! 
How  does  it — that  is — ha !  ha  ! — how  do  you 


STARTING  A  NEW  PAPER.  13 

feel  about  it,  Simon?  Hal  ha!  It  is  only — 
ah ! — a  little  interchange  of  private  opinion. 
Ha!  ha!" 

"Az  lo'  me,"  Simon  said,  spreading  out  his 
hands,  and  extending  his  arms  in  a  gesture  of 
sincere  frankness,  "  awf  c'os',  annudder  baper 
means  more  eggsbense  for  advurtidesment  wid 
no  addigate  redurns  for  the  oudlay ;  fo',  awf 
c'os',  de  Gayzette  reages  all  my  gustomers,  and 
more,  too ;  bud  I  am  for  't,  ef  thay  rest  of  thay 
boys  air.  P'raps  we  kin  hev  lots  ov  fun  findin' 
oud  w'are  all  de  eggsbenses  come  in,  eh,  Judge  ? 
I  am  in  fur  annyding  thay  rest  of  thay  boys  air 
in  fur,  from  a  noosebaper  to  zygloramy  of  Ad- 
laridy." 

"  As  for  advertising,  Simon — ha !  ha ! — I  will 
just  withdraw  from  the  Gazette,  and  doubje  up 
on  our  paper,  ha !  ha  !  for — O !  ah ! — I,  ha !  ha ! 
look  upon  such  expense  as — ah — just  so  much 
contributed  to  the  press,  anyway — ha !  ha !" 

"And  the  judge,  don't  you  know,  could 
throw  all  his  legal  ad's  to  our  paper,  do  n't  you 
know,  and  never  feel  it?  His  clients  have  to  pay 
all  advertising  bills,  anyway,  don't  you  know; 
and,  do  n't  you  know,  the  Judge  would  make 
them  help  us  that  way,  don't  you  know?" 

"  Guess  my  clients  and  Simon's  customers, 
and  Charlie's  too,  are  all  in  the  same  boat. 
They  all  have  to  pay  a  little  more  for  what 


14  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

they  get  to  make  up  for  advertising  expense. 
Isn't  it  so,  Simon?" 

"  May  be  so,  Judge,  may  be  so !  Id  maygd 
no  diffrunce  to  me-e-e  w'ere  I  advurdize,  so  I 
advurduse" 

"  But  say,  boys,  why  not  get  Uncle  Mon- 
moskin  to  brush  up  the  old  Gazette — get  a  new 
editor,  buy  new  type,  and  so  on?  Then  we 
could  get  along  without  a  new  paper.  To  tell 
the  truth,  I  dislike  to  go  back  on  the  Gazette  at 
this  late  day.  It  was  a  blessed  good  thing  to 
get  hold  of  the  Gazette  down  at  the  front  in  war 
times.  I  used  to  read  it  through,  advertise- 
ments and  all,  especially  home  advertisements, 
if  I  do  n't  now.  Why,  when  we  were  about  to 
go  'marching  to  the  sea'  with  Sherman,  I  re- 
member I  read  Charlie's  drug  advertisements, 
and  wished  I  had  a  drink  of  his  soda-water ;  for 
he  had  a  picture  of  the  fountain  in  the  paper," 
Major  Morrison  said. 

"Soda- water!  Now,  Major,  don't  you  know 
that  is  a  little  thin?  Not  many  soldiers,  don't 
you  know,  ever  broke  through  the  guard-line, 
don't  you  know,  to  get  soda-water?  Wasn't  it 
the  'pure  drugs,  etc.,'  of  Charlie's  ad.  that 
caught  your  eye  ?  That  etc.  means  a  good  deal, 
don't  you  know,  in  a  drugstore  ad.,  don't  you 
know?"  Captain  Thompson  said,  with  hilarious 
laughter. 


STARTING  A  NEW  PAPER.  15 

"  Perhaps  the  major's  suggestion  is  the  right 
thing  to  do'.  Suppose  we  see  Monmoskin  first. 
There  is  no  little  risk  in  establishing  a  new  pa- 
per, however  ably  managed,"  Judge  Tracy  said, 
when  all  were  quiet  again. 

"  It  is  hard  to  cure  an  old  dog  of  his  tricks, 
don't  you  know,  and  the  Gazette^  Judge,  has 
tricks  as  old  as  the  hills,  don't  you  know? 
Washing  machines  and  little  liver-pills,  don't 
you  know,  are  more  important  than  news  from 
Washington,  don't  you  know?" 

"Well,  ah — ha!  ha  ! — there  is  sometimes  more 
stir  in  washing  machines  than  in  Washington — 
ha,  ha !  ha,  ha  !  ha  !" 

"That  reminds  me,  don't  you  know,  that 
Uncle  Monmoskin  is  in  Washington  City  this 
blessed  minute,  don't  you  know?" 

"He  is?     What  for?" 

"  Place  and  power,  Judge.  Why  he  expects 
the  President  to  do  great  things  for  him,  do  n't 
you  know,  because  he  printed  his  picture,  do  n't 
you  know,  head  of  column  next  to  reading  mat- 
ter, do  n't  you  know,  all  last  summer?" 

"  Last  summer !  Why,  there  was  no  cam- 
paign last  summer." 

"  Of  course  not,  Judge  ;  but,  do  n't  you  know, 
it  is  a  great  thing  to  keep  one's  place  and  face 
before  the  people,  don't  you  know?  And  then, 
don't  you  know,  no  other  paper  in  the  State 


1 6  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

could  claim  such  devotedness,  do  n't  you  know, 
to  the  President?" 

"  By  the  way,  Captain,  do  you  hear  anything 
encouraging  from  your  appointment?"  Major 
Morrison  asked. 

"Not  a  word,  Major,  don't  you  know?  And 
the  queerest  part  of  it  is,  don't  you  know,  that 
no  one  seems  to  want  the  place  I  am  after,  do  n't 
you  know?  I  am  the  only  applicant,  and  it's 
queer,  don't  you  know,  that  I  don't  get  it?" 
The  captain  took  on  a  seriousness  he  did  not 
feel,  for  life  was  mostly  sunshine  with  him. 

"  Well,  Judge,  since  we  are  all  agreed  on  a 
new  paper,  or  the  Gazette  rejuvenated  —  ha! 
ha! — suppose  we  all — ha,  ha!  ha,  ha  ! — happen 
in  on  Uncle  Moninoskin  when  he  comes  back — 
ha,  ha! — and  inquire  what  he  will  do?" 

"What  do  you  say,  Simon?" 

"  Id  maygd  no  diffrunce  to  m-e-e.  Awf  c'os' 
I  'd  radder  haf  a  bran  new  baper,  but  id  maygd 
no  diflfrunce." 

"  But,  do  n't  you  know,  if  we  started  a  new 
paper,  we  would  have  a  bright,  clean,  and  at- 
tractive page,  do  n't  you  know,  whereas  the 
other  way,  we  would  be  loaded  down  with  old 
patent  medicine  plates,  don't  you  know,  right 
from  the  word  go?" 

"  Second-hand  gloading  mighty  poor  iuveds- 
munt" 


STARTING  A  NEW  PAPER.  17 

"Yes;  it  is  a  little  like  taking  a  case  in  hand 
after  a  jury  is  impaneled." 

"Or  buying  pine  lands  in  the  stumps." 

"  Or,  ah — ha,  ha  1 — like  putting  old  corks  in 
new  bottles — ha!  ha! 

"  Well,  shall  we  wait  to  see  Uncle  Monmos- 
kin,  or  shall  I  write  out  an  agreement  to  start  a 
new  paper  as  Charlie  suggested?" 

"  Write  it,  Judge,  and  we  will  all  sign.  That 
will  be  a  starter,  don't  you  know?" 

"  Yes,  wride  it,  Judge.  No  use  cutting  the 
gahment  'tel  the  gustomer  is  measured." 

The  paper  was  prepared  and  signed,  and  the 
company  were  about  to  separate,  when  Seth 
Russell  entered  the  office,  smiled  on  all,  and 
bowed  to  each,  and  slipping  across  the  room  in 
a  half-abashed  way,  sat  down  in  a  chair,  and 
without  preface  or  explanatory  remark,  asked : 

"  What  is  the  greatest  ship  afloat  to-day?" 

"  The  Great  Eastern?" 

"The  Czty  of  Rome?" 

"The  Thunderer,  of  the  British  Navy?" 

"  All  wrong." 

"  Then  you  say,  Seth,  for  I  know  you  have  a 
catch  in  it  somewhere,  don't  you  know?"  The 
captain  remarked,  cautiously. 

"Friendship!" 

"Bahl  That's  old!"  Major  Morrison  ex- 
claimed. 


18  AM  ODD  FELLOW. 

"Right  you  are,  Major !  Older  than  Methuse- 
lah, and  yet  as  new  to-day  as  when  David  and 
Jonathan  set  it  afloat  from  the  dry-docks,  or 
when  Damon  and  Pythias  gave  it  new  rigging 
throughout — but  the  same  old  ship  that  sails  the 
sea  forever,  though  wrecked  on  every  shore ! 
Sail  on,  thou  beautiful  ship,  until  thy  prow  of 
love  has  flashed  in  every  water  that  man  may 
know,  guided  safe  through  shoals  and  sunken 
reefs  by  Truth's  unerring  eye!  Good-day,  gen- 
tlemen." 

"  Odd  fellow !"  the  judge  said,  as  Seth  hur- 
ried out 

"  He  is,  indeed." 

"  People  think  he  is  a  *  little  off,'  do  n't  you 
know;  but  when  Seth  settles  down  to  sober 
thought,  don't  you  know,  he  is  no  fool,  don't 
you  know  ?" 

"  Only  odd.  He  does  more  good  than  any 
half-dozen  men  in  the  city.  Famine  and  fever, 
fires  and  funerals,  always  stir  him  up,"  the  ma- 
jor said,  earnestly. 

"  I  understand  Monmoskin  will  be  home  next 
week.  Come  up,  gentlemen,  Tuesday  afternoon, 
and  we  will  all  go  over  and  see  what  we  can  do 
with  him,"  Judge  Tracy  said,  as  the  others  were 
leaving  his  office. 


IL 

LOVE'S  YOUNG  DREAM. 

you  have  a  copy  of  the  Gazette, 
not  yet  dry  from  the  press?"  Thaddeus 
Throckmorton  said  to  Miss  Josie  Tracy,  who  had 
waited  for  him  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  while  he 
ran  up  to  the  office  for  a  moment  before  going  to 
supper. 

"  Thank  you !"  she  said,  archly,  taking  the 
offered  paper.  "Is  there  anything  in  it?"  she 
asked,  mischievously,  a  moment  later,  as  she 
glanced  down  the  columns  as  they  walked  slowly 
toward  her  home. 

"  Of  course !  The  *  Boss '  is  in  Washington 
City,  you  know,  and  /got  this  number  out  'all 
by  my  lone,'"  Thaddeus  replied,  with  a  smile. 

"  Did  you?  Then  I  know  it  is  newsy  and 
nice  and  all  that,  if  you  got  it  out." 

"Thanks!"  he  said,  gayly,  and  with  a  happy 
flutter  of  his  heart.  "  I  will  walk  home  with 
you,  if  you  do  not  object,"  he  added,  as  they 
reached  the  corner  where  their  paths  would 
naturally  diverge. 

"Object !     I  shall  be  only  too  happy  !" 

"  My !  it  is  a  relief  to  get  out  of  that  printing- 
office  awhile." 

19 


20  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"I  should  think  you  would  be  tired,  having 
all  the  work  to  do  this  week.  Is  that  why  I 
haven't  seen  anything  of  you  since  last  week?" 

"  In  part.     But  have  you  missed  me  ?" 

"  So  much !     I  can  not  tell  you  how  much." 

"  Were  you  at  the  mustcale  Wednesday  night? 
But  of  course  you  were.  The  Gazette  has  a  full 
account  of  it,  so  I  need  not  ask  that,"  Thaddeus 
said. 

"  Yes,  I  was  there  ;  went  with  Cousin  Jennie; 
she  called  for  me.  But  it  was  simply  horrid!" 

"  Why  so?  The  Gazette  says  it  was  a  success 
in  every  way,  and  that  the  piano  recital  by  Miss 
Josie  Tracy  was  superb." 

"  It  does  n't !  But  who  told  you  anything 
about  it?  How  dare  you  describe  something 
you  never  saw,  and  to  say  playing  was  '  superb ' 
when  you  never  heard  a  note  of  it  ?" 

"I  was  not  there,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  but  I 
have  heard  you  play  often  enough  to  describe 
the  performance  without  hearing  a  note." 

"O,  thanks!" 

"  But,  besides  that,  I  asked  ever  so  many  who 
were  there,  and  they  all  said  your  playing  was 
just  *~too  sweet  for  any  use.'  And  yet  you  say  it 
was  horrid." 

"  It  was !  The  music  was  good  enough,  per- 
haps; but  then  I  was  miserable  all  evening." 

Thaddeus  was  secretly  glad  to  hear  her  de- 


LOVE'S  YOUNG  DREAM.  21 

clare  she  was  miserable  when  he  was  absent,  and 
fondly  hoped  her  misery  was  due  to  his  absence. 

"  May  I  ask  the  cause  of  your  distress  of 
mind  ?"  he  said. 

"  You  may,  but  I  will  not  tell  you!  Next  time 
I  will  let  you  go,  and  I  will  make  it  convenient 
to  be  somewhere  else,  and  then  you  can  see  for 
yourself  how  it  is." 

"But  I  will  not  go  next  time,  since  I  know 
you  are  not  to  be  there." 

"Aha!  see  that!  But  you  didn't  let  me 
know  you  were  not  to  be  there  this  time,  or  I 
would  not  have  gone  either." 

"And  would  you  have  let  your  Cousin  Jen- 
nie go  alone,  after  stopping  for  you?" 

"She  did  not  need  to  go  alone,  nor  stop  for 
me,  either." 

"Why?" 

"  Mr.  Morrison  was  with  her.  I  do  not  know 
why  they  stopped  for  me.  I  wish  now  they 
hadn't." 

"Was  Wendell  Morrison  with  her?  Did  you 
go  with  them?  I  wish  you  hadn't!" 

"Why?  Did  you  call  and  not  find  me  at 
home?" 

"No,  I  didn't  call;  for  I  worked  like  a  slave 
until  ten  o'clock  that  night." 

"Then  why  do  you  wish  I  hadn't  gone? 
Because  Mr.  Morrison  was  along?" 


22  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  If  I  must  say  it,  Josie,  that  is  exactly  why. 
But  then  it  is  impertinence  for  me  to  express  a 
wish  about  your  escorts." 

"I  do  not  like  Mr.  Morrison  very  much.  He 
is  quite  entertaining  when  he  tries  to  be,  and 
one  can  hardly  help  liking  him,  just  a  little  bit. 
He  is  brilliant,  too.  Papa  thinks  he  will  make 
one  of  the  most  successful  lawyers  at  this  bar." 

"He  is  brilliant;  no  one  can  deny  that," 
Thaddeus  said,  rather  sadly. 

"  Now,  do  not  worry,  Thad.  I  told  you  I  was 
lonely  all  fhe  evening,  and  so  I  was.  He  did 
not  pay  one  bit  of  attention  to  me  after  we 
got  there." 

"  Is  that  why  you  were  lonely?" 

"You  mean  thing!  You  just  want  to  make 
me  come  right  out  and  say  I  was  lonesome  be- 
cause you  were  not  there,  do  n't  you  ?" 

"No,  I  do  not  want  to  make  you  say  such  a 
thing,  Josie ;  but  if  you  could  say  it,  and  would 
say  it,  without  being  made  to  say  it,  I  should 
feel  happier  than  I  do  when  I  am  left  to  guess 
at  your  meaning." 

"Well,  then,  I  will  say  just  what  is  the 
truth:  I  was  lonesome  all  evening  because  you 
were  not  there !" 

"Thank  you,  Josie !  And  I  was  lonesome 
all  evening  because  I  was  not  there.  I  will  be 
there  next  time.  Will  you?" 


LOVE'S  YOUNG  DREAM,  23 

41  If  I  have  any  one  to  go  with  me." 

"  Leave  that  to  me." 

"  But  you  may  have  a  rush  of  job-work  that 
night." 

"  Nothing  shall  interfere." 

"But  say,  Thad,  what  is  this  they  are  talking 
about  ?  Is  there  to  be  a  new  paper  started  in 
town  ?" 

"Not  that  I  have  heard.  Who  is  talking 
about  it?" 

"I  heard  papa  telling  mamma  yesterday  that 
a  subscription-list  was  started." 

"News  to  me." 

"It  is?  What  will  you  give  me  to  be  re- 
porter for  you?  I  believe  I  could  get  more 
items  than  you." 

"  I  must  see  your  father  about  that.  Thank 
you,  Josie,  for  the  pointer." 

"I  heard  him  say  who  was  to  be  editor  of 
the  new  paper;  but  I  suppose  you  would  not 
care  to  know  his  name." 

"Wouldn't  I?  Why,  that  is  worth  more 
than  all  the  rest." 

"What  will  you  give  to  know?" 

"  Anything  you  may  demand ;  for  I  know  I 
can  trust  you  not  to  demand  too  much." 

"The  half  of  your  kingdom?" 

"  Yes — the  whole  of  it.  My  kingdom  is  '  ex- 
ceeding small.' " 


24  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"But  what  would  Mr.  Monmoskin  say,  I 
wonder?" 

"  O,  he  will  be  mad — my !  how  mad  he  will 
be ! — whoever  the  editor  should  be.  I  wish  I 
had  known  it  this  week ;  for  then  I  could  have 
printed  it  in  the  Gazette.  Next  week  he  will  be 
home,  and  he  will  not  let  me  say  a  word 
about  it" 

"Well,  when  you  get  a  paper  of  your  own, 
you  can  print  what  you  please. 

"What  do  you  mean?  Not  that  /am  to  be 
the  editor  of  a  new  paper  ?" 

"That  is  what  papa  said." 

"Josie,  if  I  only  could  be,  I  would  be  the 
happiest  man  on  earth." 

"Well,  papa  is  in  favor  of  it,  and  you  know 
what  he  indorses  generally  goes  through." 

"  How  you  surprise  me !  I  never  supposed 
such  a  thought  had  ever  entered  a  mind  in 
Brambleville  but  my  own.  I  have  been  saving 
a  little  for  a  few  years,  hoping  to  get  enough 
ahead  to  start  another  paper ;  but  I  never  dared 
hope  Judge  Tracy  would  help  me." 

"Now,  remember,  you  have  promised  me  the 
half  of  your  kingdom ;  so,  if  you  do  get  the  new 
office,  half  of  it  is  to  be  mine !" 

"So  I  said,  and  so  I  say  now.  Shall  I  make 
out  a  contract  and  a  bond  ?" 

"  No,  thank  you.     I  will  take  your  word." 


LOVE'S  YOVNG  DREAM.  25 

Just  at  that  instant  they  reached  Judge 
Tracy's  home,  and  were  about  to  enter  the  gate 
when  Seth  Russell  appeared,  and  hailed  them 
gayly. 

"What  an  odd  fellow  1"  Josie  said,  in  an 
aside,  as  he  drew  near. 

"He  is  odd;  but  as  true  as  steel,  and  as 
happy  as  the  day  is  long,"  Thaddeus  replied, 
closing  the  gate  after  them,  and  pausing  to  hear 
what  Seth  had  to  say  to  them. 

"  Ha !  young  people,  you  know  the  lines 
about  Maud  Miiller,  I  suppose?" 

"Yes,  we  know  them ;  but  what  of  that?" 

"Well,  she  captured  the  judge's  heart  by  a 
cup  of  cold  water." 

"Yes." 

"Well,  thinking  of  the  judge  made  me  think 
of  the  judge's  daughter,"  glancing  merrily  at 
Miss  Josie. 

"Yes." 

"And  that  made  me  think  of  *  words  of 
tongue  or  pen,'  seeing  an  editor  here  at  the 
judge's  gate." 

"Yes." 

"And  that  made  me  wish  that  no  'sad  words' 
should  ever  grieve  your  two  hearts." 

"Ah!  thank  you!" 

"  And,  say,  Mr.  Editor,  what  are  '  the  saddest 
words  of  tongue  or  pen  ?'  " 


26  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

" '  It  might  have  been  ?'  "  Thaddeus  replied 
inquiringly. 

"So  the  poet  says,  and  truly  too.  And  what 
word  makes  all  hearts  glad,  and,  in  turn,  makes 
all  hearts  sad  ?" 

"We  can  not  say.     You  tell." 

"  Love !  Love  is  the  greatest  thing  in  the 
world.  To  love  and  to  be  loved  is  the  greatest 
triumph  of  a  lifetime.  To  love  and  not  to  be 
loved  is  the  greatest  defeat.  My  children,  love 
with  a  pure  heart  fervently,  and  all  will  be  well. 
But  in  your  triumph  or  in  your  defeat — may 
Heaven  save  you  from  defeat! — do  not  forget 
old  Seth  Russell." 

As  he  hurried  away,  he  left  Josie  suffused 
with  blushes,  and  Thad  silent  with  suppressed 
hope  that  the  blushes  meant  more  than  her  lips 
had  ever  spoken. 

Had  his  twinkling  eyes  read  their  hearts  ? 

"  I  must  go,  as  sorry  as  I  am  to  leave  you  ; 
for  my  mother  must  know  of  my  prospective 
good  fortune,"  Thaddeus  said,  at  the  steps  of 
the  mansion. 

"Must  you  go?  Can  you  not  come  in?  I 
will  give  you  one  of  your  '  superb  recitals.' ' 

"  Not  now,  Josie ;  but  may  I  call — to-morrow 
night?" 

"  Certainly.  Good-bye  !  Hope  Mr.  Monmos- 
kin  will  not  be  very  mad." 


LOVE'S  YOUNG  DREAM.  27 

"That  is  too  good  a  wish  to  be  realized. 
Good-bye !" 

And  so  it  was. 

When  the  committee  called,  as  they  agreed 
to  do,  and  stated  their  errand,  Mr.  Monmoskin's 
red  face  grew  purple  with  rage,  and  his  white 
locks  trembled  with  excitement.  He  thumped 
the  floor  with  his  stout  walking-stick,  punctu- 
ating his  reply  in  that  way  with  resounding 
commas,  semi-colons,  and  periods,  and  said : 

"What  was  Brambleville  when  I  came  here? 
Not  one  of  you  can  tell.  Not  one  of  you  were 
born  then.  It  was  only  a  stopping-place  for 
stages.  What  is  it  now  ?  A  city  that  any  man 
should  be  proud  to  call  his  home.  It  is  no 
longer  a  stopping-place  for  stages,  but  an  im- 
portant station  of  three  lines  of  railroads,  a 
place  of  fine  churches,  excellent  schools,  a  police 
force  as  good  as  earth  can  afford,  a  fire  depart- 
ment, and  everything  that  goes  to  make  life  de- 
sirable or  home  pleasant.  It  is  known  iar  and 
wide  for  its  business,  its  beauty,  its  benevolence, 
its  peace,  its  prosperity;  and  yet  you  would  make 
it  infamous  for  its  cruel  heartlessness.  What 
was  it  when  I  came  ?  A  tavern,  a  cross-roads 
store,  a  log  church, — a  wilderness.  I  started 
the  Gazette ;  the  town  grew ;  the  war  came ; 
the  Gazette  was  fearless ;  and  now,  and  now, 
and  now  !  now  I !  y-o-u !  y-o-u  !  !  ask  me  to  turn 


28  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

my  back  on  all  this  growth,  to  deny  my  own 
children,  to  let  go  the  helm  that  has  guided  us 
to  such  renown,  to  turn  over  the  whole  business 
to  a  mere  tyro  !  And  what  is  he  ?  A  creature 
of  mine  !  You  say  he  has  talent ;  you  say  he  is 
a  favorite ;  you  say  he  has  genius.  What  if  he 
has?  what  if  he  has?  w-h-a-ttf—n^ — HAS?  He 
ought  to  have.  He  has  been  with  me  twelve 
years !  No,  gentlemen,"  dropping  to  a  milder 
tone  and  a  gentler  manner,  mopping  his  per- 
spiring forehead  and  gasping  for  breath,  "  you 
can  not  dictate  to  me  !  When  I  need  your  help, 
I  will  send  for  you.  After  running  the  Gazette 
thirty  years,  and  making  Brambleville  what  it 
is,  I  need  no  advice  from  men  who  wore  dresses 
after  the  Gazette  was  founded." 

And  then,  as  the  committee  stood  silent,  he 
remarked  sarcastically,  as  he  drew  his  chair  to 
his  desk : 

"This  is  my  busiest  dayl" 


III. 

THE  TRUTH. 

T  the  time  the  committee  called  on  Mr. 
Montnoskin,  Thaddeus  was  out  of  the 
office,  having  gone  to  secure,  if  possible,  a  col- 
umn of  live  advertisements,  to  take  the  place 
of  "  dead  plates,"  as  patent-medicine  electro- 
types were  called,  after  running  the  time  con- 
tracted for  by  the  agencies. 

He  was  surprisingly  successful,  and  returned 
jubilant  over  his  work,  whistling  a  lively  tune 
that  was  finished  at  the  very  threshold  of  the 
onice  by  a  lew  steps  of  a  "  hoe-down  "  dance. 

"  Mr.  Monmoskin,  see  this  !  How  is  that  for 
advertisement  copy?"  he  said,  as  he  unrolled 
the  sheet  of  wrapping-paper  on  which  the  mer- 
chant had  hastily  scrawled  his  copy  for  a  whole 
column  advertisement. 

The  editor  took  the  copy,  crumpled  it  up 
into  a  wad,  tossed  it  in  the  waste-basket,  and 
roared  fiercely  at  his  astonished  assistant : 

"I  want  to  hear  nothing  from  you  on  any 
subject.  I  want  you  to  let  advertisements  for 
this  paper  alone.  I  have  made  up  my  mind 
that  such  as  you  shall  no  longer  disgrace  my 
office.  I  am  done  with  you  /" 

•9 


30  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

Thaddeus  was  dumb  with  surprise,  and 
choked  by  sudden  uprising  of  passion.  For  a 
moment  his  heart  stood  still,  and  his  face  was 
white  as  death.  After  a  strong  effort  to  be 
calm,  he  said,  with  difficulty : 

"I  do  not  understand  you,  sir." 

"  Do  not  understand  me  ?  Then,  in  the  name 
of  all  the  gods,  who  sent  Judge  Tracy,  and  a 
pack  of  his  willing  tools,  to  me,  to  ask  that 
you — think  of  it ! — that  you  should  be  made  ed- 
itor of  my  paper  ?  You  an  editor  1" 

"  I  do  not  know — " 

"  Stop  !  Stop  right  there  !  Do  not  put  lying 
on  top  of  your  base  ingratitude." 

"  Sir !"  Thaddeus  said,  with  energy,  "  no  man 
shall  accuse  me  of  lying  without  proving  his 
charge  or  retracting  his  words." 

Thaddeus  was  so  thoroughly  mad  that  he 
was  scarcely  aware  of  his  actions.  He  advanced 
threateningly  toward  his  employer ;  but  he  did 
not  intend  to  do  him  bodily  injury,  though  the 
latter  thought  he  did. 

"Stand  back,  or  I'll  let  this  stick  take  its 
course  !"  the  editor  said,  brandishing  his  cane. 

Some  good  angel  whispered  to  Thaddeus, 
and  he  paused  in  his  steps,  and  with  wonderful 
calmness,  that  came  to  him  as  suddenly  as  a 
flash  of  light,  he  said  : 

"I  do   not   fear  your  cane,  nor  need  I  heed 


THB  TRUTH.  31 

your  words.  Twelve  years  of  service  proves  to 
you,  I  am  quite  sure,  that  I  am  neither  a  cow- 
ard nor  a  liar." 

"And  you  did  not  send  those  men  to  me,  you 
insolent  hypocrite  ?" 

"I  did  not,  nor  did  I  know  they  were  com- 
ing. But  you  shall  not  have  occasion  to  repeat 
your  abuse.  I  will  leave  you.  Good-day  !" 

The  editor  scowled,  and  hissed  vengeance 
through  set  teeth ;  but  nevertheless  he  shouted, 
as  Thaddeus  closed  the  door  behind  him : 

"Never  enter  this  office  again,  at  your  peril!" 

At  any  other  time,  Mr.  Monmoskin  would 
not  have  been  so  irritable,  nor  so  vehement  and 
unreasonable,  perhaps ;  but  his  visit  to  Wash- 
ington had  not  resulted  as  he  hoped ;  and  no 
Government  appointment  obtained,  he  came 
home  disheartened,  disgusted,  and  full  of  vin- 
dictiveness.  The  committee  and  Thaddeus 
were  the  victims  of  his  pent-up  wrath  and  re- 
sentment. 

An  hour  after  Thaddeus  left  the  office,  Mr. 
Monmoskin  would  have  welcomed  his  return, 
and  he  hoped  his  faithful  helper  would  forgive 
his  harshness,  and  would  return  the  next  day  to 
"  make  up."  Vain  hope  ! 

That  very  night,  just  before  twelve  o'clock, 
Thaddeus  entered  the  waiting-room  of  the  rail- 
way depot,  accompanied  by  Judge  Tracy  and 


3»  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

Simon  Hunter.  He  was  starting  for  Chicago  to 
buy  a  new  and  complete  newspaper  outfit.  In 
his  pocket  was  a  bank-draft,  payable  to  his 
order,  sufficiently  large  to  cover  the  cost  of 
such  an  office,  and  his  own  savings  were  ample 
to  meet  the  incidentals  of  such  a  trip. 

In  Judge  Tracy's  pocket  was  Thaddeus's  note 
for  the  amount  of  the  bank-drait. 

"What  value  has  my  note?"  he  asked,  in 
surprise,  when  his  friends  proposed  to  let  him 
have  the  money  to  buy  the  office,  taking  his  in- 
dividual paper  in  return.  "  I  have  nothing  with 
which  to  secure  it."  He  said  something  of  the 
same  import  at  the  depot. 

"Yes,  you  haf  someding — you  haf  whole 
lots  someding.  Someding  more  waluable  dan 
moonee.  You  haf  a  good  name,  an'  Solomon 
say  dat  ish  bedder  as  grade  ridges  all  de  time, 
alretty." 

At  this,  Judge  Tracy  smiled  broadly,  smoked 
his  cigar  vigorously,  gently  swung  his  cane  be- 
hind him,  and  then  said,  his  eyes  closing  to 
shut  out  the  smoke  of  his  fragrant  weed : 

"If  we  are  satisfied,  you  ought  to  be." 

"  I  am  glad  you  gentlemen  think  so ;  but  I 
am  overwhelmed  by  this  unexpected  kindness. 
It  is  the  realization  of  a  hope  I  have  long  enter- 
tained, but  which  I  dared  not  look  for  these 
many  years." 


THE  TRUTH.  33 

"How  mooch  Thad  looks  like  his  fadder, 
Judge !  Brambleville  lost  a  fine  man  when 
Richard  Thruckmoortun  died." 

"That  is  true;  but  let  us  hope  Thad  will 
make  up  by  extra  ability  and  intenser  devotion 
what  we  lost  in  his  father.  Dick  was  a  brill- 
iant fellow  though.  He  and  I  started  in  the 
law  together,  though  I  was  several  years  older." 

"Were  you  and  father  in  partnership?"  Thad 
asked,  in  surprise. 

"  Yes,  for  a  few  weeks  only ;  but  in  that  time 
.1  learned  to  love  him,  and  expected  great  things 
of  him  if  he  had  lived.  Wendell  Morrison  re- 
minds me  of  him  in  his  dash  and  daring  and 
his  rare  eloquence." 

"But,  Joodge,  Wendell  has  nune  ov  the  stay- 
bileetee  and  solid  sinse  ov  Ridgeard." 

"That  is  so." 

"Excuse  me;  but  am  I  to  understand  that 
your  interest  in  me  and  your  kindness  in  this 
business  enterprise  are  due  to  my  father's 
memory  ?" 

"In  part,  yes;  but,  of  course,  had  we  not 
discovered  in  you  some  of  the  qualities  that  en- 
deared your  father  to  us  in  our  younger  days, 
we  would  not  have  trusted  you  quite  as  much 
as  we  now  do." 

"But,  say,  Joodge,  nune  ov  us  haf  got  such 
avvecting  vays  in  the  lodge-room  as — " 

3 


34  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  There  's  my  train !  Good-bye,  Judge ! 
Good-bye,  Mr.  Hunter!  I  will  be  back  day 
after  to-morrow.  Be  sure  to  lease  that  room 
over  the  post-office  for  me.  I  will  buy  enough 
type  to  run  a  daily,  too.  It  is  a  little  risky,  but 
other  places  make  it  go.  Why  not  here?" 

"As  you  think  best,"  said  the  judge,  as  a 
parting  injunction  ;  "  but  be  careful  not  to  overdo 
the  matter  at  the  start" 

When  the  day  dawned  that  September  morn- 
ing, Thaddeus  descried  in  the  distance  the  blue 
waters  of  Lake  Michigan  standing  up  like  a  low 
hill,  over  which  were  flying  white  birds,  their 
feet  touching  the  earth,  and  their  pinions  pierc- 
ing the  sky  that  bent  over  them.  As  the  rush- 
ing train  bore  him  rapidly  toward  the  great 
city,  the  hill  melted  into  a  broad  expanse  of 
sparkling  water,  and  the  birds  swelled  into 
masted  ships  that  sailed  before  the  wind  into 
the  harbor  of  the  metropolis  of  the  West 

"  It  is  very  odd  that  I  should  be  here  with 
two  thousand  dollars  in  my  pocket,  when  last 
week  I  should  have  staggered  under  the  task  of 
raising  two  hundred  dollars." 

"  It  is  odd  that  Thad  should  be  in  Chicago 
buying  a  new  press  for  a  new  paper,  when  a 
few  days  ago  he  was  wishing  he  could  start  a 
little  job  office  of  his  own,"  said  Miss  Josie 
Tracy  at  the  breakfast-table. 


THE  TRUTH.  35 

"So  it  is,  my  daughther,  but  when  you  are 
older  you  may  learn  there  are  very  many  odd 
fellows  in  this  world,  and  there  is  no  telling 
what  odd  things  they  will  do." 

As  the  judge  walked  leisurely  down  to  his 
office  that  morning,  he  was  overtaken  by  Seth 
Russell,  who  slackened  his  short,  quick  steps  to 
suit  the  judge's  slow  but  stately  stridings,  long 
enough  to  say : 

"What  are  the  poet's  words  about  Truth, 
Judge?" 

"'Truth  crushed  to  earth  will  rise  again?*" 

"  Yes,  that 's  it.  '  Truth  is  mighty,  and  will 
prevail,'  is  another.  Is  that  in  the  Bible,  Judge, 
or  is  it  one  of  Davy  Crockett's  wise  sayings  ?" 

"  Neither,  Seth,  as  far  as  I  know." 

"They  say  we  are  to  have  a  new  paper,  and 
a  daily  at  that.  Is  that  the  truth,  Judge?" 

"  From  present  appearances  it  will  be  the 
truth  before  many  days." 

"  And  Thad  Throckmorton  is  to  edit  it?" 

"Yes,  that  is  the  scheme  now." 

"  May  the  spirit  of  his  murdered  father  be 
with  him !  The  truth  about  that  awful  crime 
will  come  out  yet,  Judge.  Remember,  Seth 
Russell  told  you  so.  Good-day  !" 

"  As  odd  as  ever,"  the  judge  said,  and  slowly 
walked  on  to  his  office. 


IV. 

FOREWARNED. 

TTTHE  Daily  Banner  was  a  decided  sensation 
\-  in  Brambleville,  and  leaped  at  one  bound 
into  popular  and  permanent  favor. 

The  merchants  liked  the  little  paper,  because 
in  it  they  could  announce  daily  bargains,  and 
proclaim  the  arrival  of  new  goods,  and  not  wait 
a  week  for  the  tardy  appearance  of  the  Gazette. 

The  young  people  liked  the  paper,  ior  it  put 
them  in  possession  of  the  latest  gossip,  the  com- 
ings and  goings  of  society,  at  the  very  earliest 
date. 

The  old  folks  liked  it  because  it  printed  daily 
predictions  of  the  weather,  as  well  as  forecasts 
of  the  political  world. 

Nearly  everybody  liked  the  paper  because 
they  liked  the  young  editor,  and  discovered  in 
all  his  projects  and  prophecies  the  excellency 
they  had  learned  to  ascribe  to  his  character.  He 
was  evidently  getting  on  in  the  world,  and  they 
were  all  glad  that  the  son  of  Richard  Throck- 
morton  prospered  in  life. 

Except  Mr.  Monmoskin,  who  was  tearfully 
afflicted  with  jealousy  on  account  of  the  sweep- 
ing conquest  of  the  Banner,  only  one  other  per- 
36 


FOREWARNED.  37 

son  was  annoyed  by  its  success,  or  felt  hostile 
toward  its  editor,  and  that  person  was  Wendell 
Morrison. 

But  as  he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature, 
and  an  aspirant  for  further  political  preferment, 
he  very  discreetly  kept  his  annoyance  to  himself, 
and  only  spoke  to  his  intimate  associates  of  his 
hostile  feelings. 

A  year  rolled  by,  and  the  Banner  was  firmly 
planted  in  Brambleville,  and  had  made  for  itself 
an  enviable  reputation  in  adjoining  counties,  and 
even  in  the  principal  cities  of  the  State.  It  was 
no  uncommon  thing  to  see  quotations  from  the 
Banner  in  the  great  dailies. 

The  meanwhile  Thaddeus  developed  much 
self-reliance,  and  by  his  position  as  editor  of  the 
most  vigorous  paper  in  the  county,  came  to  be 
sought  out  by  politicians  generally,  and  by  local 
leaders  he  was  frequently  mentioned  as  an  avail- 
able candidate  for  office  at  the  approaching 
election. 

He  was  not  averse  to  serving  a  term  or  two  in 
some  office — for  the  sake  of  the  salary  attached, 
for  one  thing,  but  more  especially  for  the  stand- 
ing among  men  it  would  give  him.  He  looked 
forward  to  a  day  when  he  could  dispose  of  his 
newspaper-office,  and  give  his  whole  attention 
to  the  law  and  politics. 

"  Father  was  Judge  Tracy's  partner  once," 


38  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

he  said  to  his  mother,  when  discussing  the  ques- 
tion one  day,  "  and  who  knows  but  that  some 
day  I  will  take  father's  place!" 

His  mother  made  no  reply,  but  excused  her- 
self from  the  break  fast- table  for  a  few  minutes. 
Had  Thaddeus  seen  her  agitation  he  would  have 
known  that  such  a  turn  in  affairs  was  not  a 
pleasant  prospect.  The  new  paper  did  not  in- 
terfere with  his  persistent  reading  and  studying 
law  under  Judge  Tracy's  tutorage. 

Wendell  Morrison  was  ambitious  to  be  Judge 
Tracy's  law  partner  also ;  but  he  sought  it  not  so 
much  as  an  end,  as  did  Thaddeus,  but  as  the 
means  to  an  end,  and  that  end  still  further  glory 
and  power  in  the  political  field. 

Neither  knew  that  the  other  coveted  partner- 
ship with  Judge  Tracy ;  but  both  knew  that  the 
other  aspired  to  political  honors. 

Wendell  smiled  on  Thad's  ambition  when  in 
his  presence ;  but  when  elsewhere,  and  with 
those  he  could  trust,  he  unbosomed  his  bitter 
hostility  to  the  young  editor's  aspirations. 

A  favorite  resort  for  Wendell  and  his  coterie 
of  helpers  was  the  corner  where  the  big  tree 
stood — a  corner  as  noted  as  any  place  in  the 
village;  for  a  huge  tree  grew  up  from  the  side- 
walk, and  spread  its  heavy  branches  in  all  direc- 
tions, making  a  grateful  shade  in  the  day-time, 
and  at  night  affording  a  darkened  spot  where  a 


FOREWARNED.  39 

half-dozen  men  could  congregate  unseen  by 
others,  but  in  a  position  to  see  all  that  occurred 
for  squares  down  each  of  four  streets.  The  spot 
was  known  as  "The  Big-tree  Corner." 

It  was  here  that  Wendell  stood  one  night, 
discussing,  with  a  few  friends,  the  political  out- 
look, when  he  said,  hissingly,  just  loud  enough 
to  be  heard  by  those  near  him : 

"Thad  is  as  ambitious  as  Satan;  but  I  will 
pull  some  strings  he  does  not  suspect  I  can 
touch,  and  then  there  will  be  music  in  the  air!" 

"The  major  seems  to  be  friendly  to  his 
plans,"  suggested  Billy  Barnwell,  chief  of  police, 
who  was  one  of  Wendell's  trusted  lieutenants. 

"  Father  ?  O  yes ;  he  is  friendly.  Has  to 
be,  you  know.  He  was  Throckmorton's  bosom 
friend — one  of  them,  I  mean — Thad's  father,  you 
know — and  is  friendly  to  Thad  on  his  father's 
account.  Father  is  an  odd  fellow  anyway." 

u  But  I  should  think  he  would  be  for  his  own 
kin.  Does  he  suspect  Thad's  intention  to  run 
against  you  ?" 

"No!"  contemptuously.  " The  fact  is,  father 
thinks  I  am  solid  all  over  the  county.  May  be 
I  am  ;  rather  think  so  myself.  But  in  time  of 
peace  prepare  for  war !  See  ?" 

"What  will  you  do?" 

"  Clip  his  wings,"  he  said,  viciously.  "  What 's 
this  daily  for  ?  Wings !  That 's  all.  Gets  into 


40  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

homes  every  day  instead  of  once  a  week.  Comes 
into  notice  in  the  city  dailies.  A  daily,  though 
ever  so  small  and  inconsequential,  outweighs 
and  outruns  a  weekly  five  to  one.  Clip  his 
wings!  See?" 

"  That 's  so,"  assented  Billy,  striking  his  club 
against  the  heavy  sole  of  his  upturned  shoe. 
"  That 's  so,  Wend.  But  how  ?  The  daily  is  in 
the  hearts  of  the  people  as  well  as  their  homes." 
"  Do  n't  work  against  it  openly,  for  then  every- 
body would  drop  to  our  game ;  but  let  it  alone, 
and  quietly  get  others  to  let  it  alone.  Get  people 
to  read  the  Herald^  from  Riverton.  I  am  going 
over  there,  and  will  get  the  manager  to  have  a 
special  letter  from  Brambleville  every  day.  It 
will  cost  only  two  cents.  I  can  get  him  a  cor- 
respondent here  who  will  work  for  nothing,  if  he 
will  send  him  the  Daily  Herald." 

"  Then  there  is  the  Review.  That  is  more 
popular  here  than  the  Herald.  Work  that  the 
same  way,"  urged  Sam  Slimkins,  another  will- 
ing doer  ot  Wendell's  work. 

"Don't  know  about  that,"  Wendell  said, 
meditatively.  "  He  is  correspondent  for  that 
paper  himself.  It  would  be  hard  to  get  him  out." 

"  Nonsense  !"  said  Billy,  positively.  "  I  can 
get  him  out." 

"  You  !  I  would  like  to  see  you.  How  would 
you  go  about  it  ?" 


"  Never  you  mind  Dan.     Leave  him  to  me,"   said  the 
chief  of  police."— Page  41. 


FOREWARNED.  41 

"  Well,  not  me,  but  I  know  a  fellow  who  can." 

"  That  is  likely ;  but  can  you  use  him  ?  Who 
is  he  ?" 

"  Dan  Habberdown,  the  news  agent.  He  is 
down  on  Thad  because  the  Banner  has  cut  into 
his  sales.  He  does  n't  sell  nearly  as  many  dailies 
as  before,  and  he  won't  touch  the  Banner  with  a 
ten-foot  pole,  he  is  so  sour  on  Thad." 

"  What  can  Habberdown  do  with  the  Review 
people?" 

"  Everything.  He  can  write  the  Review  that 
their  sales  are  falling  off  because  Thad  is  their 
correspondent  here,  and  tell  them  if  they  want 
to  hold  their  own  they  must  get  another  cor- 
respondent. Of  course  they  will  ask  Dan  to 
name  a  man  who  will  take  with  the  people.  He 
will  come  to  me,  and  I  will  come  to  you,  and 
you  can  name  the  man  you  want,  and  Thad  will 
have  to  walk  the  plank." 

"  By  jingo,  Billy,  you  are  a  schemer  !  I  never 
thought  it  was  in  you.  But  will  Dan  do  that?" 

"  Never  you  mind  Dan.  Leave  him  to  me," 
said  the  chief  of  police,  confidently,  whacking 
his  gloved  hand  softly  with  the  handle  of  his 
club.  "  You  would  n't  ask  such  a  question  as 
that  if  you  knew  where  I  caught  Dan  just  the 
other  night.  I  did  n't  '  run  him  in,'  as  I  ought 
to,  may  be ;  and  now  he  is  my  man,  you  bet, 
just  as  long  as  I  want  to  use  him." 


42  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

Then  all  laughed  uproariously,  for  a  laugh 
would  not  reveal  any  of  their  secrets,  and  they 
enjoyed  Billy's  cuteness  in  getting  a  string  on 
Dan  Habberdown. 

"  Where  did  you  catch  him  ?"  asked  Sam 
Slimkins,  expecting  a  story  of  flagrant  wrong- 
doing. 

"  Never  mind  where,"  said  Wendell,  with  a 
show  of  impatience.  "  Let  us  attend  to  busi- 
ness, and  not  waste  our  time  over  Dan's  depart- 
ures from  right  paths.  Anyway,  Sam,  you  know 
enough  meanness  now,  without  learning  any 
from  Dan." 

Again  the  stillness  of  the  night  was  broken 
by  uproarious  merriment  at  this  thrust  on  Sam. 
When  it  subsided  he  had  rallied  sufficiently  to 
retort. 

"  I  bet  you  can  give  Dan  a  pointer,  and  then 
beat  him  at  his  meanness." 

"  I  never  have  posed  as  a  saint,  and  it  is  not 
likely  I  will  begin  now,  seeing  that  my  eye  is 
on  a  seat  in  Congress,"  Wendell  said,  good- 
naturedly. 

"  But  I  have  got  it  on  Dan,  and  no  mistake," 
interposed  Billy,  with  a  chuckle  of  delight. 

"  Good  for  you,  Billy,"  said  Wendell,  approv- 
ingly, giving  the  chief  of  police  a  friendly  slap 
on  the  shoulder.  "  But  see  here,"  he  added, 
soberly,  "  do  not  bear  down  too  hard  on  the 


FORE  WARNED.  43 

Banner  all  at  once.  I  do  not  want  it  to  come 
out  against  me.  All  I  want  is  to  get  Throcky's 
wings  clipped,  so  he  will  not  dare  to  run  against 
me  in  the  convention  for  the  nomination." 

"  Perhaps  the  Review  had  better  be  left  alone 
awhile,"  suggested  another.  "  They  might 
write  to  Thad  himself  before  they  appointed 
another." 

"  I  have  got  it  down  fine,  and  do  n't  you  for- 
get it!"  Billy  replied.  "Just  leave  that  to  me, 
and  you  will  see  how  I  play  the  game." 

"  I  must  keep  right  on  going  to  the  Banner 
office  as  before,"  said  Wendell,  "  and  if  Throcky 
should  ask  me  to  do  any  little  thing  for  him, 
why  I  will  do  it,  just  as  if  nothing  is  in  the 
wind.  See?" 

"  Promise  him  everything,  and  do  nothing. 
That's  the  ticket,"  said  Sam  Slimkins.  "Feed 
him  on  taffy — he  likes  it." 

"Don't  know,"  said  Billy.  "Throcky  is 
nervy.  You  must  not  crowd  him  too  hard." 

"Don't  crowd  him  at  all,"  said  Wendell. 
"  Let  him  go  along  as  usual,  and  stand  by  him 
in  public,  but  give  him  fits  in  private.  See  ?" 

"O  yes;  we  see!"  said  Billy. 

"We  see,  and  will  go  you  one  better,"  said 
Sam,  with  a  malicious  smile. 

"Success  to  you,  then!"  said  Wendell. 

And  thus  they  parted  for  the  night;  but  there 


44  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

had  been  set  in  motion  currents  and  counter- 
currents  that  threatened  to  swamp  Thaddeus 
and  his  paper  in  a  whirlpool  of  conflicting  and 
cruel  controversies. 

More  effectually  to  hide  from  Thad  his  part 
in  the  matter,  Wendell  assumed  an  unusually 
friendly  manner,  and  frequented  the  Banner 
office  so  persistently  that  observant  folks  pre- 
dicted a  union  of  interests,  and  consequent 
peaceable  settlement  of  political  contention. 

Thaddeus,  however,  noted  with  annoyance 
that  the  Herald  was  giving  much  space  and 
great  prominence  to  Brambleville  news  and 
gossip.  It  seemed  to  him  unkind  to  reach  over 
into  his  field,  and  seek  to  glean  ahead  of  the 
Banner. 

After  a  very  few  days  the  mail  brought  this 
letter  to  Thaddeus : 

REVIEW  OFFICE,  \ 

Lakeside,  October  2,  18 — .  f 
MR.  THADDEUS  THROCKMORTON,  Brambleville : 

On  and  after  the  15th  of  this  month,  we  shall  not  need 
your  services  as  correspondent  for  the  Review  in  Bramble- 
ville. Yours  truly, 

SAMUEL  SINGLETON,  Manager. 

He  read  the  brief  note  once,  and  read  it 
again,  and  then  again,  and  sat  down  to  think. 
He  had  wanted  to  resign,  as  his  own  work  was 
pressing  and  urgent;  but  kept  up  the  Review 
items  as  a  matter  of  accommodation  to  the 


FOREWARNED.  45 

paper  that  had  befriended  him  when  he  needed 
the  five  dollars  to  ten  dollars  a  month  his  cor- 
respondence brought  him.  Now,  to  be  dismissed 
summarily  was  humiliating.  Perhaps  there  was 
a  mistake  that  might  be  rectified.  It  was  worth 
a  trial,  at  least.  Turning  to  his  desk,  he  wrote : 

MR.  SAMUEL  SINGLETON,  Manager  Review,  Lakeside : 

Dear  Sir, — Please  give  me  cause  of  dismissal  as  corre- 
spondent of  the  Review,  as  per  your  note  just  at  hand. 
Sincerely,  THADDEUS  THROCKMORTON. 


With  impatience  he  awaited  the  reply : 

REVIEW  OFFICE, 

Lakeside,  October  7,  18 — 


MR.  T.  THROCKMORTON  : 

Sir, — Referring  to  your  inquiry,  just  at  hand,  would 
say  our  friends  in  Brambleville  think  the  Review  will  be 
benefited  by  a  change  of  correspondent  This  is  purely  a 
business  matter  for  business  ends. 

Yours,  etc.,  S.  SINGLETON,  Manager. 

Thaddeus  read  these  lines  with  amazement. 
Who  in  Brambleville  could  or  would  take  the 
trouble  to  oust  him  from  so  inconsiderable  a 
place  as  correspondent  of  the  Review?  He 
could  fasten  upon  no  one,  and  least  of  all  did 
he  suspect  the  chief  of  police,  or  even  his  rival, 
for  he  had  been  so  very  kind  and  condescending 
of  late. 

He  was  in  no  amiable  frame  of  mind  when 
a  friend  called  at  the  office,  and  said : 

"  Suppose  you  heard  about  Morrison  ?" 


46  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"No;    what  is  it?     The  major,  you  mean?" 
"No,  not  the  major,  but  Wendell." 
"What  now?"  he  asked,  and  his  tone  and 
manner  implied  that  happenings  to  the  younger 
Morrison  were  so  many  that  one  more  could 
make   but   little   difference   to   him    or   to   the 
public. 

"  He  's  a  lucky  dog,  that  same  Wendell  Mor- 
rison is,"  the  friend  proceeded  to  say.  "Bet- 
ter lucky  than  rich,  they  say ;  but,  then,  Morri- 
son is  both  lucky  and  rich.  It  beats  all  how 
plums  fall  in  some  people's  hands !  They  say 
Crickenbaum,  the  painter,  is  making  a  new  sign 
down  at  his  shop,  and  it  reads :  *  Tracy  &  Mor- 
rison, Attorneys  at  Law.'  *  How  is  that  for 
high?*" 

"Who  told  you  ?"  Thaddeus  asked,  taking  up 
his  pencil  to  write  the  item  of  news  for  the 
Banner ;  but  he  dared  not  lift  his  eyes  to  his 
informant  lest  they  should  betray  his  feeling, 
and  could  not  ask  any  further  particulars.  He 
trembled  with  sudden  but  suppressed  emotion. 
It  was  the  very  place  he  coveted.  He  was  glad 
his  friend  left  the  office  at  once,  before  he  dis- 
closed his  distress.  He  bowed  his  head  on  his 
desk,  and  wished  he  had  never  been  born.  Had 
the  tide  set  in  against  him?  Was  he  to  be 
lifted  and  carried  whither  he  would  not  ?  Were 
breakers  ahead  ? 


FORE  WARNED.  47 

If  Morrison  was  to  be  Judge  Tracy's  law 
partner,  it  was  a  foregone  conclusion  that  he 
would  be  a  privileged  caller  at  the  judge's 
home,  and  that  Josie  would  be  thrown  into  his 
company  very,  very  often.  He  feared  Morri- 
son there.  Amid  these  unpleasant  reflections 
the  door  opened  quietly,  and  an  employee  of  the 
Gazette  entered  timidly. 

"How  are  you,  Reynolds?"  said  Thaddeus, 
rising,  and  extending  a  hand  in  welcome. 

"First  rate,"  Reynolds  replied,  grasping 
Thad's  hand  heartily.  "  You  were  not  expect- 
ing me,  were  you  ?" 

"Hardly;  but  you  are  welcome,  nevertheless. 
How  is  the  Gazette  prospering  ?" 

"All  right.  But,  say!"  and  Reynolds  put 
his  chair  down  close  beside  Thad's,  "  you 
need  n't  be  afraid  of  the  Gazette.  That  can  do 
you  no  harm ;  but  you  'd  better  look  out  for 
your  friends  /" 

"Explain." 

"Can  I  trust  you?"  said  Reynolds,  drawing 
his  chair  still  closer  to  Thad.  "  You  won't  give 
me  away?" 

"Reynolds,  you  have  seen  me  tried.  Did  I 
flinch?  My  friendship  for  you,  my  love  for 
justice,  and  my  high  regard  ior  truth,  are  your 
guarantee  that  what  you  commit  to  my  keeping 
is  safe,  whether  it  be  much  or  little." 


48  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"Of  course,  I  know  that,  or  I  would  not  be 
here.  What  I  say  I  say  on  Friendship,  Love, 
and  Truth." 

Then  he  told  him  of  the  compact  made  the 
night  Wendell  and  his  associates  met  at  the 
Big-tree  Corner,  and  planned  his  defeat.  He 
overheard  the  conversation  as  he  sat  in  an  open 
window  just  above  them,  seeking  relief  from  a 
severe  nervous  headache. 

"I  ought  to  have  come  sooner,"  he  said,  in 
conclusion;  "but  I  hated  to,  seeing  I  am  work- 
ing for  the  Gazette,  and  the  two  offices  are  not 
on  very  good  terms." 

"  I  thank  you  very  sincerely,  Reynolds ;  and 
do  not  think  for  one  minute  that  I  am  not  the 
friend  of  every  one  in  the  Gazette  office,  no 
matter  how  bitter  Mr.  Monmoskin  may  be  to- 
ward me— especially  of  such  as  you." 

As  Reynolds  passed  out,  Seth  Russell  slipped 
in,  and,  as  the  door  closed  behind  the  departing 
caller,  he  said : 

"  Beware,  my  friend !  beware !  Take  the 
advice  of  an  old  man,  and  trust  not  appearances ! 
Where  love  is,  you  are  safe.  Where  truth  abides, 
you  are  secure.  Trust  only  those  who  love  in 
truth  and  in  deed" 

"That  is  good  advice,  I  am  sure,  Mr.  Russell; 
but  can  you  not  be  a  little  more  explicit?" 

"I  was  coming  home  Irom  watching  by  the 


FOREWARNED.  49 

sick  last  night  at  midnight,  and,  as  I  passed  the 
Big-tree  Corner,  I  heard  words  that  made  me 
shudder.  You  have  enemies,  my  friend,  where 
you  least  suspect  it.  Our  lawmaker  is  a  law- 
breaker. Beware !  Remember,  Seth  Russell 
hath  warned  you !  When  you  are  in  danger, 
do  not  call  the  police !  A  mountain  in  Pal- 
estine has  more  help  for  you  than  they  1 
Good-bye !" 

4 


v. 

ONE  DEGREE  HIGHER. 

IT'S  you,  is  it?" 

Miss  Josie  answered  the  bell  herself; 
for  she  was  expecting  Thaddeus,  as  it  was  his 
evening  and  his  hour,  and  she  delighted  him 
always  by  meeting  him  at  the  door  with  a  hearty 
welcome. 

"  Put  your  hat  there,  and  your  coat  also,"  she 
continued,  pointing  to  the  hall-tree.  "  I  thought 
you  would  n't  know  !" 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  he  replied,  smiling  at  the  ab- 
surd suggestion  that  he  was  a  stranger  there. 

They  passed  into  the  parlor,  and  were  seated, 
when  Thad  noticed  that  Judge  Tracy  was  read- 
ing the  evening  paper  in  the  back  parlor. 

Usually  he  was  glad  to  find  the  judge  at 
home,  and  generally  excused  himself  from  Josie 
for  a  few  minutes  while  he  chatted  with  her 
father  about  business  and  politics.  But  that 
evening  he  felt  a  constraint  he  had  not  known 
before  in  the  judge's  presence,  and,  instead  of 
going  to  greet  him,  he  drew  a  chair  to  the  fire- 
place, looked  steadily  into  the  glowing  grate, 
and  drifted  off  into  a  reverie  that  was  protracted 
50 


ONE  DEGREE  HIGHER.  51 

and  unbroken,  until  Josie  said,  with  arching 
brows  and  a  mischievous  smile : 

"Well,  yes— if  I  must  say  it." 

"Excuse  me!"  Thad  said,  startled  into  con- 
sciousness of  his  surroundings.  "I  fear  I  did 
not  leave  business  at  the  door,  as  I  should  have 
done.  But  then,  Josie,  I  have  been  so  indulged 
in  your  home,  and  your  father  has  been  so  kind 
to  me  that  I  have  learned  to  take  privileges  here 
that  I  would  not  dare  to  grant  myself  elsewhere. 
And  did  you  know,  Josie,  that  I  came  down  to- 
night intending  to  lay  my  whole  heart  open  to 
you — my  business  heart,  I  mean,"  blushing 
slightly,  as  he  added  the  modifying  phrase. 

"Thank  you — for  your  confidence  in — my 
business  tact;"  and  an  answering  color  height- 
ened her  beauty.  "  The  daily  grows,  I  see." 

"Beg  pardon!" 

"  The  daily  grows  more  interesting.  How  do 
you  think  of  so  much  to  say — so  much  that  is 
really  interesting?" 

"  The  '  much  to  say'  is  easy  enough.  It  is  the 
'what  to  say'  that  worries  one.  There  are 
many  items  of  local  interest  that  come  to  us  as 
rumors,  and  which  we  would  be  glad  to  print, 
if  true ;  but,  before  we  can  verify  them,  the  day 
is  gone,  and  by  the  next  day  what  was  'news' 
becomes  an  old  story." 

At  this  juncture,  Judge  Tracy  put  down  his 


52  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

paper,  came  into  the  parlor,  and  greeted  Thad- 
deus  cordially.  Standing  in  the  middle  of  the 
floor,  putting  his  glasses  into  their  case,  he  said : 
"I  promised  to  meet  Morrison  at  our  office 
a  little  after  eight  o'clock,  and  as  it  is  nearly 
that  time  now,  I  must  go.  I  am  sorry  I  can 
not  stay  and  talk  over  matters  and  things  a  little. 
The  daily  still  flourishes,  of  course?" 

"Yes,  sir,  thank  you.  I  am  sorry  you 
must  go." 

"Something  particular?" 
"No,  sir,  nothing  of  importance." 
Thaddeus  was  indeed  sorry  that  Judge  Tracy 
was  going  to  his  office — to  meet  Morrison;  for 
that   confirmed    the   rumor   that  Morrison   had 
been    admitted    to    partnership,    and    it    would 
henceforth  be  "Tracy  &  Morrison." 

And,  later,  might  there  not  appear  in  his  own 
paper  a  notice  headed  "  MORRISON — TRACY," 
and  which  should  read  like  this : 

"  MARRIED — At  the  residence  of  the  bride's 
father,  Judge  Tracy,  Mr.  Wendell 
Morrison  and  Miss  Josephine  Tracy, 
all  of  Brambleville.  Rev.  Archibald 
Outwright  officiating." 

Thaddeus  saw  that  notice  in  solid  nonpareil 
type,  under  the  daily  announcement  of  mar- 
riages, in  his  paper  of  some  future  date,  as 
clearly  and  as  exactly  as  the  reader  of  any  no- 


ONE  DEGREE  HIGHER.  53 

tice  sees  the  printed  letters  when  the  paper  is 
in  his  hand. 

What  if  that  notice  should  be  handed  him 
the  last  minute  before  going  to  press,  when  all 
were  busy  correcting  galleys,  making  up  forms, 
or  spreading  the  paper,  so  that  he  would  have 
to  set  the  type  himself,  as  he  often  did  for  a 
belated  item ! 

How  would  his  voice  sound?  Would  it  be 
steady  and  clear,  or  uncertain  and  husky,  as  he 
called  out  to  the  foreman: 

"Kill  that  four-line  'Cow  for  Sale'  to  make 
room  for  this  marriage  notice ;  for  it  must  ap- 
pear to-day,  if  ever!" 

He  wondered  if  the  boys  would  notice  how 
pale  his  face  was — how  his  hands  trembled— or 
guess  why  he  went  from  the  press-room  to  his 
desk,  and  did  not  wait  to  get  the  first  paper 
that  came  off  the  press,  as  he  had  always  done. 

As  he  meditated  on  these  things,  he  rocked 
furiously  before  the  sputtering  grate-fire,  un- 
mindful that  Judge  Tracy  had  gone,  and  that 
Josie  sat  near  him,  shading  her  face  from  the 
firelight  by  the  evening  paper  her  father  had 
left  in  her  lap,  patiently  waiting  for  her  guest 
to  come  back  from  his  wandering.  He  rocked 
and  rocked,  and  followed  himself  through  a 
dreary  life,  repeating  over  and  over  "  the  sad- 
dest words  of  tongue  or  pen,"  of  which  old  Seth 


54  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

Russell  had  reminded  him  that  day  he  and  Josie 
talked  at  her  father's  gate,  until  he  stood  at  his 
own  grave. 

Slowly  and  still  more  slowly  the  chair 
swayed  on  its  noiseless  rockers  as  Thaddeus 
approached  the  final  scene,  and  it  stood  still  as 
he  heard  the  minister  say,  "  Earth  to  earth,  dust 
to  dust,  ashes  to  ashes,"  and  heard  the  drop- 
ping of  the  handful  of  dirt  that  the  sexton  threw 
down  upon  his  coffin !  Sighing  heavily,  he 
aroused  from  his  dreaming,  and,  looking  up 
with  confusion  and  sincere  regret,  said  earnestly: 

"Miss  Josie !  I  beg  your  pardon  for  such 
rudeness.  It  is  too  much!  Here  a  second  time 
I  have  utterly  forgotten  your  presence,  and  have 
gone  chasing  after  wild  thoughts  of  my  brain. 
Can  you  forgive  me  a  second  time?" 

"  Do  not  mention  it !  No  apologies  are 
needed  ;  for  I,  too,  was  '  lost  in  thought,'  and  for 
that  reason  have  not  felt  neglected.  So  we  are 
even.  Now  let  us  both  begin  at  the  beginning. 
Shall  we?" 

"On  one  condition,"  Thaddeus  exclaimed, 
suddenly  seized  with  a  determination  to  risk 
everything  on  a  bold  movement. 

"  And  what  is  the  condition  ?" 

"  That  we  tell  each  other  of  what  we  were 
dreaming !" 

"  O  no  ;  I  can  not  agree  to  that !" 


ONE  DEGREE  HIGHER.  55 

"Well,  then,"  said  Thaddeus,  reassured  by 
her  blushes  and  her  refusal  to  tell,  "  let  us  each 
hope  that  what  the  other  saw  in  our  wide-awake 
dreams  may  never  come  to  pass!" 

"O  no,  not  that!  I  do  not  want  any  such 
ruthless  destruction  of  my  castles.  My  reverie 
was  of  such  bright  and  happy  things  I  Were  n't 
yours  ?" 

"Far  from  it!  I  dreamed  of  buried  desires, 
of  wrecked  hopes,  of  a  dismal  ending  to  a  beau- 
ful  day-dawn." 

"  Poor  fellow !  What  horrid  happenings  have 
set  your  thoughts  awry  like  that?  Where  are 
all  the  bright  views  of  the  future  you  laid  before 
me  just  a  few  nights  ago?" 

Thaddeus  smiled  feebly,  tried  to  appear  cheer- 
ful and  to  be  brave,  and  said : 

"Illusions!" 

"  But  seriously,  Thad,  I  am  afraid  the  daily 
is  taxing  you  too  much.  You  are  losing  your 
buoyancy  of  spirit.  Whatever  profit  you  make 
will  prove  dear  gain  obtained  at  that  cost." 

"  Can  you  read  secret  thoughts  and  discover 
hidden  causes  ?  You  are  a  discerner  of  spirits 
surely ;  for  the  daily  does  worry  me,  but  not 
half  as  much  as  other  things." 

"  What  '  other  things  ?'     May  I  know  ?" 

Her  tone  and  manner  were  sincerely  sympa- 
thetic. 


56  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"I  would  like  to  tell  you,  and  yet  I  do  not 
wish  to  burden  you  with  personal  matters." 

"What  other  matters  would  interest  me  half 
as  much  ?  If  you  can  trust  me,  I  shall  certainly 
be  glad  to  share  your  burden.  Will  not  two 
make  the  burden  half  as  much  ?" 

"You  are  very  kind.  Josie,  you  have  helped 
me  more  than  I  can  tell,  and  at  more  times  than 
you  know,  by  your  sympathetic  words  and  very 
charming  manner.  Trust  you?  I  can  trust 
you  with  anything — everything;  but  I  do  dis- 
like  to  worry  you  with  so  much  of  my  personal 
affairs." 

"  It  is  no  worry,  Thad.  Not  to  tell  me  would 
worry  me." 

"Well,  it  is  just  this:  I  have  discovered  that 
I  have  secret  enemies.  I  mean  those  who  are 
devoted  friends  in  my  presence,  but  relentless 
foes  when  I  am  not  around.  A  knowledge  of 
the  injury  they  can  do  me  when  masquerading 
as  my  friends,  or  when  working  for  the  party — 
to  let  them  tell  it,  and  in  such  a  way  that  I 
can  not  defend  myself — sets  me  wild  at  times." 

"Perhaps  your  fears  are  groundless.  Some 
one  may  have  deceived  you  just  to  annoy  you." 

"No,  that  can  not  be.  I  have  already  lost 
both  money  and  influence  through  their  secret 
machinations.  I  know  who  they  are,  but  dare 
not  open  my  mouth ;  for  I  could  not  convey  to 


ONE  DEGREE  HIGHER.  57 

others  the  proofs  I  have,  and  my  assertion  would 
remain  unsupported  by  a  single  fact." 

"Could  you  not  get  father  to  help  you?  He 
has  never  refused  you  yet." 

"  That  is  true,  but  here  he  can  not  help ; 
that  is,  I  can  not  lay  the  case  before  him." 

"But  will  you  trust  me  with  the  facts?  I 
will  not  demand  proof.  I  will  take  your  bare 
assertion ;  for  I  know,  Thad,  your  word  is 
truth." 

"Yes,  Josie,  I  can  trust  you,  but  I  can  not 
trust  myself  in  this  case.  I  am  afraid  if  I 
should  commence  to  tell  you,  I  would  go  too 
far,  and  would  say  things  I  might  regret  after  it 
was  too  late." 

"  Then  I  can  not  help  you ;  but  really,  you 
do  not  do  yourself  justice.  But  I  will  not  urge 
you.  When  you  think  you  can  with  safety  to 
yourself,  let  me  help  you  carry  your  secret. 
But,  come,  let  us  have  a  song !  Perhaps  we 
can  sing  you  into  a  happier  frame  of  mind. 
Songs  cure  the  blues,  Thad." 

"  Do  not  say  '  the  blues,'  Josie.  I  hope  I  am 
too  much  a  man  to  succumb  to  *  the  blues.' " 

"What  shall  I  say,  then?     Melancholy?" 

"  No,  not  '  melancholy.'  Let  it  drop.  What 
shall  we  sing?" 

He  went  to  the  piano,  and  searched  through 
the  music  for  their  favorite  songs.  By  a  strong 


58  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

effort  he  threw  off  his  sadness,  and  was  himself 
again  in  appearance  and  manner. 

With  heartiness  and  with  expression  they 
sang  together,  rendering  the  duet  as  faultlessly 
as  they  would  had  they  been  singing  for  an 
audience  of  critics ;  but  their  hearts  were  not 
in  the  work,  nor  did  they  heed  the  words  their 
lips  uttered. 

When  the  song  was  done,  Josie  softly  touched 
the  keys,  playing  nothing  but  broken  strains  of 
familiar  tunes.  Thaddeus  stood  at  the  end  of 
the  piano,  apparently  studying  the  score  of  the 
music  before  him,  but  really  thinking  not  once 
of  the  notes,  nor  of  the  sentiment  of  the  song. 

"Miss  Josie,  I  am  no  stranger  to  you.  We 
have  been  schoolmates;  and  you  know  what  I 
am  now,  and  what  I  hope  to  be,  do  n't  you  ?" 

"Yes,  I  think  I  do,"  without  looking  up. 

"You  have  encouraged  me,  and  helped  me, 
and  sympathized  with  me,  especially  since  I  took 
the  Banner  office." 

"Had  to,"  she  said,  mischievously,  glancing 
up ;  but  his  eyes  did  not  meet  hers ;  "  for  papa 
had  your  note,  and  wanted  you  to  prosper  until 
that  was  paid,  if  no  longer." 

"But  the  note  is  paid.  And  has  your  inter- 
est in  me  and  the  office  ceased  with  the  interest 
on  the  note?" 

This   time   he  looked   at  her;    but  she  was 


ONE  DECREE  HIGHER.  59 

busy  with  the  piano-keys,  and  did  not  see  his 
glance,  though  she  smiled  at  his  pleasantry. 

"  It  is  hard  to  quit  caring  for  what  you  have 
cared  for  so  long,"  she  said ;  "  that  is,  right  off. 
Besides,  I  did  not  know  the  note  was  canceled." 

"It  is.     Paid  the  last  cent  this  week." 

"Why  didn't  you  tell  me?  Here  I  have 
been  feeling  an  interest  in  you  even  to-night" 

"Josie,  I  have  cared  for  you  longer  than  that 
note  has  been  running.  For  years,  Josie,  for 
years  I  have  cared  for  you.  Josie,  I  love  you. 
I  can  not  help  it.  I  do  not  want  to  help  it. 
Must  I  quit?" 

He  closed  the  music-book  with  a  slam,  turned 
from  the  piano,  walked  across  the  floor,  returned, 
and  stood  at  her  side,  waiting  her  reply  ;  for  she 
still  thrummed  the  keys  thoughtlessly,  but  with- 
out evoking  a  single  discord.  His  face  burned, 
and  the  blood  struggled  through  every  swelling 
vein ;  for  his  heart  beat  violently  as  he  waited 
for  his  fate  at  her  hands.  Presently  she  said, 
shyly : 

"You  needn't  quit,  right  off." 

"Do  not  say  that,  Josie.  Say  I  need  not 
quit,  ever." 

"On  one  condition,"  she  said,  letting  her 
hands  fall  into  her  lap,  and  looking  up  at  him 
lovingly. 

"And  that?     But  I  grant  it  before  you  tell 


60  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

me.  I  grant  any  condition  you  may  name!"  he 
cried  eagerly,  taking  her  hand  in  his. 

"That  you  tell  me  truly,  truly,  all  you  thought 
and  feared  to-night  when  you  dreamed  before 
the  grate  awhile  ago." 

"I  will.     And  then?" 

"You  say." 

"And  then,  may  I  love  you  always,  always, 
as  I  do  now?" 

"Yes." 

"And,  Josie — my  own  true,  true  love — my 
very  life — will  you  give  me  a  corner  in  your 
heart  for  my  very  own,  and  mine  only?" 

"Yes,  dear;  not  one,  but  four  corners." 

"And  the  center?" 

"The  center,  too!" 

"And  you  truly,  truly  want  me  to  tell  you 
what  I  was  thinking  about  when  I  came?" 

"  Truly,  truly !  Let  me  know  your  very 
heart !" 

Then  he  told  her  all  he  knew  of  Morrison's 
schemes  against  him,  not  stopping  until  he  had 
poured  into  her  willing  ears  all  his  longing  to 
make  for  himself  a  name  and  a  place,  and  to  be 
found  worthy  to  be  associated  with  her  father  in 
the  practice  of  law. 

Then  she  said : 

"  I  have  not  heard  of  the  partnership,  except 
that  papa  has  said  he  had  been  urged  to  take 


ONE  DEGREE  HIGHER.  6l 

Morrison  into  business.  But  Thad,  dear,  I  am 
nearer  to  papa  than  any  law  partner  can  ever 
be.  Trust  me !" 

Thaddeus  went  home  happy.  His  losses 
were  trifles  compared  with  his  gains. 

What  if  Morrison  was  scheming  against  him, 
and  planning  his  overthrow?  One  heart,  at 
least,  never  could  be  influenced  by  his  sophistry 
or  embittered  by  his  malice. 

What  if  Judge  Tracy  had  consented  to  a 
partnership  with  the  brilliant  young  lawyer? 
The  judge's  daughter  had  consented  to  a  part- 
nership with  the  hard-working  young  editor, 
and  that  was  enough. 

What  if  the  Review  had  dropped  him,  since 
Miss  Josie  had  admitted  him  to  her  heart! 

The  Daily  Banner,  the  next  day,  contained 
two  items  which  Thaddeus  read  in  the  first 
copy  pulled  from  the  press  without  so  much  as 
a  tremor  of  fear  or  a  tinge  of  bitterness,  though 
he  had  written  them  the  day  before  in  anguish 
of  soul. 

Indeed,  the  sunshine  in  his  heart  could  never 
be  darkened  by  any  cloud  that  might  arise  in 
the  newspaper  or  political  sky. 

"Please,  and  can  Seth  have  a  fresh  paper?" 

"  Indeed  you  can,  Mr.  Russell.  Good  paper 
to-day,  too." 

"  I  see  it  is  by  your  eye.     Old  Seth  can  read 


63  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

eyes,  Thaddeus.  You  are  safe  so  long  as  that 
light  shines  there.  Let  love  rule!" 

"  What  an  odd  fellow  he  is !"  Thad  said,  as 
the  door  closed  behind  him. 

But  Wendell  Morrison  had  plans  other  than 
those  that  pertained  to  law  and  politics.  At 
least  he  knew  that  political  prospects  are  al- 
ways greatly  enhanced  by  a  surplus  of  finance. 
His  fortune  as  an  heir  of  his  father's  estate 
would  be  ample ;  but  then  Miss  Josie,  the  only 
child  of  Judge  Tracy,  would  inherit  a  far  greater 
amount.  He  might  manage  to  unite  the  two 
fortunes. 

And  then — "  Zounds !"  he  exclaimed  as  he 
thought  of  it ;  "  if  I  could  supplant  Thad  in  her 
heart,  how  sweet  would  be  my  revenge  on  him !" 

So  he  determined  to  leave  no  work  undone 
that  would  further  his  designs. 


YL 

TWO  ODD  FELLOWS. 

"O  EV.  ARCHIBALD  OUTWRIGHT  was  a 
-*-^-  popular  preacher;  but  he  was  far  from 
being  an  ideal  minister  in  personal  appearance, 
his  garb  was  so  queer. 

He  wore  a  broad-brim  soft  hat,  which  shaded 
a  face  that  would  be  taken  for  that  of  a  pros- 
perous and  intelligent  German  farmer;  for  it 
was  round,  ruddy,  running  over  with  ripples 
of  good-humor,  and  a  delight  to  all  his  ac- 
quaintances. 

He  wore  the  conventional  black  of  the  clergy ; 
but  though  his  garments  were  cut  so  differently, 
they  were  made  to  fit  so  perfectly  that  one  lost 
sight  of  them  in  considering  the  person  of  the 
preacher.  Though  he  weighed  very  nearly 
three  hundred  pounds,  he  walked  along  the 
street  so  briskly,  and  with  such  a  light  step, 
that  one  was  hardly  aware  of  his  approach  until 
greeted  by  his  cheery  "  good-morning  1"  He 
carried  a  cane ;  but  its  ferrule  was  rubber-tipped, 
and,  when  it  touched  the  pavement,  bounded 
back  noiselessly,  as  if  it  knew  better  than  to 
break  in  upon  the  preacher's  meditations,  or  to 
attract  attention  from  him. 

* 


64  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

His  bright  eyes  snapped  constantly  with  in- 
nocent mirthfulness,  and  his  memory  was  such 
that  he  greeted  nearly  every  one  by  name,  even 
if  he  did  not  pause  for  further  salutation.  Mr. 
Outwright  was  a  welcome  caller  everywhere — 
as  welcome  as  a  ray  of  sunshine  when  clouds 
are  thickest,  or  a  breath  of  cool  air  when  the 
sun  is  hottest;  for  he  was  both  sunshine  and 
life  to  every  one.  He  knew  quite  as  well  when 
to  leave  as  when  to  call ;  what  to  keep  to  him- 
self, and  what  to  spread  before  his  friends.  A 
rare  man  was  Mr.  Outwright! 

Thaddeus  was  bending  over  his  table,  writing 
rapidly,  much  absorbed  in  his  subject,  when  the 
Rev.  Archibald  Outwright  entered  the  office. 
He  paused  in  the  middle  of  the  floor,  waiting 
for  an  interval  of  silence  in  the  scratch,  scratch, 
whipity,  whipity,  whish,  whir,  whir,  whir-r-r, 
dot,  dash,  wiglety-wig  of  the  pen,  as  it  swept 
across  the  paper,  recording  swiftly  and  unerr- 
ingly the  glowing  thoughts  of  the  young  editor. 

"My  dear  Mr.  Outwright!"  Thaddeus  ex- 
claimed, looking  up  for  an  instant,  having  made 
on  the  paper  a  double  loop  with  his  pen,  put- 
ting two  accent  marks  at  the  middle,  as  if  to 
say,  "I  stop  here,  but  have  more  to  say,  and 
will  write  it  on  occasion." 

"  I  hope  I  do  not  intrude !" 

"  By  no  means.    I  am  always  glad  to  see  you." 


TWO  ODD  FELLOWS.  65 

"  I  thought  differently  the  past  ten  minutes 
while  I  waited  in  your  majesty's  presence — 
waiting  for  a  sign  that  I  might  approach  nearer 
than  the  middle  of  the  floor !  How  do  you  act 
when  you  are  not  glad  to  see  a  caller?" 

"O!  I  just  say,  'I  will  attend  to  you  in  a 
minute!'" 

"Then  there  are  fellows  that  you  can  sift 
clean  in  a  minute,  eh?" 

"Yes;  either  sift  or  shift." 

"Which  would  you  rather  do?" 

"Sift,  of  course.  An  editor  is  always,  look- 
ing for  wheat,  pure  wheat,  and  looking  for  it 
everywhere.  Sometimes  he  sifts  a  good  editorial 
from  a  caller  who  never  suspects  why  the  editor 
takes  such  an  interest  in  his  affairs.  By  study- 
ing individuals,  the  editor  comes  to  know  peo- 
ple, communities,  States,  nations." 

"  But  where  do  you  put  eccentric  folks — those 
persons  who  are  so  unlike  other  people ;  are  so 
seldom  seen  that  you  do  not  know  where  to  put 
them?" 

"  O,  I  have  a  place  for  all  such.  I  label  each 
one  (  an  odd  fellow,'  and  stow  him  away  in  my 
mind  in  a  corner  reserved  for  just  such  as 
they." 

"A  motley  group  you  have  in  that  corner,  I 
am  sure!" 

"  Sure  enough ;  and  yet  so  alike  that  I  un- 
5 


66  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

hesitatingly  put  them  all  in  the  same  corner  of 
my  mind." 

"  Cranks,  every  one  of  them  !." 

"  Granted !  And  yet  cranks  are  good  for 
something — indeed,  good  for  much." 

"  Some  are,  I  know.  The  grindstone  crank 
is  good  when  you  have  an  ax  to  sharpen !" 

"And  the  windlass  crank,  when  you  want  to 
draw  water  irom  a  deep  well,"  Thad  replied. 

"  But  say,  Mr.  Editor,  could  you  give  me  a 
list  of  your  odd  fellows?  I  should  like  to  study 
some  of  them." 

"Not  a  list,  Mr.  Outwright.  That  would 
hardly  be  fair;  but  I  can.  tell  you  one  I  have 
put  in  my  corner." 

"Well?" 

"Yourself!" 

"Indeed!     Thanks!     But  why— " 

"  Now,  do  not  be  offended.  I  think  no  higher 
compliment  can  be  paid  one  than  to  call  him  an 
odd  fellow.  The  thumb  on  your  hand  is  an  odd 
fellow.  No  one  is  with  him — he  stands  alone. 
But  from  time  to  time,  as  the  business  of  life 
goes  on,  every  other  finger  finds  its  power  for 
usefulness  greatly  increased  by  association  with 
the  thumb — the  odd  fellow  that  stands  on  a  line 
different  from  all  the  other  digits." 

"  But  how  does  that  apply  to  me  ?" 

"First,  as  to  your  dress.     You  do  not  keep 


TWO  ODD  FELLOWS.  67 

In  line  with  other  men  of  your  calling.  They 
wear  tall  hats ;  you  wear  a  low  one.  They  ap- 
pear in  clerical  garb  always  and  everywhere; 
you  dress  to  suit  your  convenience  and  taste. 
They  go  with  the  people ;  but  when  the  people 
get  up  on  a  line  with  you,  the  next  thing  we 
see,  you  are  away  ahead,  beckoning  them  to  come 
and—" 

"  Hold  !  Spare  me !  I  am  not  quite  a  saint — 
not  quite  a  Paul  or  a  Peter." 

"For  which  I  am  truly  grateful.  I  do  not 
believe  the  Creator  exhausted  the  variety  of 
good  and  great  men  when  he  set  Paul  and  Peter 
adrift  in  the  world.  But,  after  all,  they  were 
odd  fellows.  Had  they  not  been  odd,  had  they 
not  stood  out  alone  and  for  their  convictions, 
they  would  not  have  been  known  beyond  their 
time  or  their  native  land,  and  the  world  would 
not  be  what  it  is  to-day ;  for  their  preaching — " 

"  Then  you  are  odd,"  interrupted  the  preacher. 
"So  please  step  into  your  own  little  corner  with 
the  rest  of  your  odd  fellows ;  for  what  can  be' 
odder  than  an  editor  turning  lecturer  on  theol- 
ogy and  Biblical  history?" 

"What  can  be  odder,"  retorted  the  editor, 
"than  a  gray-haired  preacher  sitting  at  the  feet 
of  a  country-town  editor?" 

"I  assure  you  the  minister  could  do  much 
worse." 


68  AA  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  Thanks !  But  you  are  the  only  minister  I 
dared  unbosom  myself  to.  Usually  they  are  so 
far  away,  but  you  are  right  near  me." 

"I  try  to  get  near  every  one,"  the  preacher 
replied. 

"So  you  do!"  Thaddeus  assented,  earnestly. 

"By  the  way,  I  must  not  forget  my  errand 
here  to-day.  There  's  a  case  of  real  destitution 
in  the  Fourth  Ward,  which  I  stumbled  on  yester- 
day, that  needs  immediate  help." 

"Tell  me  about  it,"  the  editor  said,  giving 
close  and  careful  attention  to  what  the  minister 
said. 

"A  mother  and  three  children  and  a  husband 
constitute  the  family.  The  children  have  just 
passed  the  crises  in  typhoid  fever." 

"And  the  father?"  queried  Thaddeus. 

"Yes,"  said  the  minister,  with  a  sigh;  "you 
guess  it,  I  see.  I  wish  it  was  otherwise,  but  it 
is  n't.  He  drinks,  and  that  tells  the  story." 

"Shall  I  mention  it  in  the  paper?" 

"If  you  will,  in  a  general  way;  but  do  not 
give  the  particulars.  Say  that  food  or  clothing, 
left  at  the  parsonage,  will  be  carefully  distributed 
among  the  needy ;  and  that  worthy  persons  may 
learn  particulars  by  applying  to  me." 

"Perhaps  you  would  better  leave  name  and 
address  here  too,  so  I  may  speak  advisedly  to 
any  who  may  ask  me  about  it." 


TWO  ODD  FELLOWS.  69 

"Certainly.  It  is  the  Tingleman  family,  on 
Chestnut  Street,  two  doors  beyond  the  railway." 

"You  want  these  to  go  in  to-morrow,  I  sup- 
pose," picking  up  the  paper  on  which  the  min- 
ister had  written  notices  of  special  services. 

"If  you  please.  Well,  odd  fellow,  good-bye! 
and  excuse  me  for  intruding." 

"Good-bye,  odd  fellow!  I  shall  not  excuse 
you  if  you  do  not  intrude  just  this  way  pretty 
often.  Now,  mind  that!" 

"  I  am  glad  I  came,  and  will  come  again ; 
for  I  have  gathered  material  for  a  first-rate 
sermon." 

"And  I  for  at  least  three  good  editorials." 

"Good!" 

"  Come  again !" 

The  minister  went  away,  thanking  a  kind 
Providence  that  had  blessed  Brambleville  with 
such  an  editor  as  that.  The  editor  resumed  his 
work,  after  meditating  a  few  minutes  on  the  de- 
light of  having  for  a  friend  so  genial  a  preacher 
as  the  Rev.  Mr.  Outwright. 

At  nine  o'clock  that  night,  Thaddeus  stood 
at  the  door  of  the  Tingleman  home,  knocking 
timidly,  and  wondering  how  he  should  intro- 
duce himself;  for  he  had  never  before  gone 
alone  on  such  an  errand,  and  he  felt  embar- 
rassed by  his  ignorance  of  proper  procedure. 

"Come  in,"  said  a  mild-voiced  old  lady,  who 


70  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

opened  the  door,  and  stepped  aside  for  the  caller 
to  PU.SS  into  the  room.  She  manifested  no  sur- 
prise at  seeing  a  stranger,  and  showed  no  tim- 
idity in  admitting  him. 

Thaddeus  stood  awkwardly  at  the  door,  which 
she  closed  behind  him,  while  she  crossed  the 
room  to  get  a  chair,  and  place  it  beiore  the  lit- 
tle square  stove  that  was  doing  its  best  to  heat 
the  house,  fed  by  fuel  of  mixed  wood  and  soft 
coal,  with  an  occasional  handful  of  corncobs. 
Thaddeus  took  the  offered  chair,  put  the  basket 
he  had  brought  on  the  floor  beside  him,  and  de- 
posited thereon  his  hat.  Presently  he  unbut- 
toned his  great  coat,  ran  his  hand  around  his 
collar,  pulling  it  away  from  his  neck ;  for  he 
was  stifled  by  the  impure  air  of  the  room,  and 
was  sure  he  was  breathing  poison  at  every  in- 
spiration. 

"I  have  brought  you  a  few  little  things  that 
may  please  the  children,"  he  said,  handing  the 
basket  to  the  old  lady,  who  had  stood  by  the 
stove  a  few  minutes,  silently  looking  at  the  ed- 
itor. "How  are  the  children  now?" 

"They  is  doin'  well  now;  but  their  mammy 
Is  down  now,  an'  their  pappy  is  comin'  down, 
tew,  'pears  like;  fur  he's  feelin'  awful  downsey." 

A  moan  startled  Thaddeus,  for  it  seemed  to 
be  right  at  his  elbow.  Looking  around,  he  dis- 
covered that  his  chair  almost  touched  the  foot- 


TWO  ODD  PELLOWS.  71 

board  of  a  bedstead,  until  then  unnoticed  by 
him  in  the  very  dim  light  of  the  room.  The 
moan  was  followed  by  a  cough,  a  gasp,  and  a 
distressing  but  apparently  vain  effort  to  clear 
the  throat,  and  then  came  another  moan  and  a 
gasp. 

He  sprang  to  his  feet,  waited  a  second  in  in- 
decision, and  then  advanced  to  the  head  of  the 
bed,  finding  Mrs.  Tingleman  leaning  over  its 
edge,  face  downward,  struggling  for  breath,  and 
choking  with  the  obstruction  in  her  throat. 

With  one  hand  he  held  her  head,  and  with 
the  other  gave  her  his  own  handkerchief,  which 
he  took  out  of  his  overcoat-pocket ;  for  she  was 
vainly  feeling  around  over  the  bed  for  hers. 

"Doctor?"  she  said,  faintly  and  inquiringly, 
as  Thaddeus  helped  her  back  on  the  pillow, 
after  the  exhausting  contest  with  her  foe. 

"No,  not  the  doctor,  Mrs.  Tingleman;  but  a 
friend.  What  can  I  do  for  you?" 

"Nothing,"  she  answered  feebly,  and  lay 
there  gasping  for  breath,  almost  dying  from 
sheer  exhaustion. 

"Wuz  she  stranglin'?"  asked  the  old  lady, 
returning  from  emptying  the  basket  of  its  con- 
tents. "Poor  thing!"  she  added,  pityingly, 
bending  over  the  bed,  and  touching  Mrs.  Tingle- 
man's  forehead  with  her  bony  but  mercy-tipped 
fingers. 


7«  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"Yes;  but  I  helped  her  a  little,  and  I  guess 
she  will  rest  now  awhile." 

"She  will  sleep  a  little  now — alias  duz." 

"Where  is  Mr.  Tingleman?" 

"At  the  yard.  Watchman,  ye  know,  at  the 
lumber-yard." 

"I  see!  How  is  he  now?"  Thaddeus  asked, 
moving  away  from  the  bed  again. 

"'Bout  drinkin'?" 

"Yes;  does  he  keep  straight  since  his  wife 
is  sick?" 

"  He  's  better  'n  he  wuz.  I  hain't  seed  him 
tech  it  fur  nigh  onto  a  week." 

"That's  good.  But  who  will  stay  with  you 
here  to-night.  Mrs.  Tingleman  is  very  sick." 

"  La  I  I  know  she  's  sick.  Nobody  '11  stay 
but  me.  Ther'  's  nobody  tu  stay." 

"Would  you  mind  having  me  here?  Could 
I  help  any,  if  I  staid  ?" 

"You?" 

"Yes ;  I  would  like  to  try  to  help  you,  if  you 
will  let  me." 

"I  'd  be  monstr'us  glad  tu  hev  ye ;  but  'pears 
like  ye  do  n't  mean  it.  I  hain't  seed  a  bed,  in 
no  proper  shape,  fur  more  'n  a  month.  Ef  ye 
jist  set  here,  and  call  me  whin  needed,  I  'd  sleep 
something  like.  But  could  ye  ?" 

"O  yes,  I  can,  and  I  will ;  but  where  will  you 
sleep?" 


TWO  ODD  FELLOWS.  73 

"Right  in  this  here  cheer.  I  cVd  sleep 
standin',  I  reckon,  if  she  wuz  off  my  mine 
onc't." 

"  Rest  easy  about  her.  I  will  watch  her  very 
carefully,  a  little  while  any  way.  You  may  go 
to  sleep  any  time." 

"Who  sent  ye  here  any  how?" 

"  Mr.  Outwright,  the  minister." 

"  An'  be  ye  a  servunt  uv  his  'n  ?" 

"Yes,"  said  Thaddeus,  smiling  at  the  ques- 
tion. "I  work  for  him  part  of  the  time." 

"He  's  bin  here  heaps  o'  times.  His  wumun 
wuz  pow'ful  kine  tu  the  chil'un.  They  're  in 
the  bed  thar'  with  the'r  mammy." 

"That  ought  not  to  be!"  Thaddeus  said, 
quickly ;  but  remembering  their  destitution,  he 
checked  himself,  and  said,  "Well,  you  go  to 
sleep  now,  aunty,  and  I  will  see  to  everything." 

"Who  tol'  ye  I  wuz  called  aunty?  Ev'y- 
body  calls  me  thet." 

"O,  I  guessed  it!" 

"Dear,  dear!  it  seems  gude  to  sleep  with 
both  eyes  shet  onc't  again." 

The  aunty  sank  back  in  the  little  rocker,  and 
was  asleep  in  a  minute ;  and  Thaddeus  was 
virtually  alone,  in  the  house  of  a  stranger, 
keeping  watch  by  the  bed  of  a  dying  woman ! 

There  was  nothing  for  him  to  do  but  to  sit 
there  and  wait  for  the  oft-recurring  struggles 


74  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

with  the  tenacious  cough.  She  seemed  hardly 
conscious  at  any  time,  and  most  of  the  time 
was  certainly  wholly  unconscious. 

Thaddeus  knew  his  mother  had  gone  to  bed 
and  to  sleep,  and  would  not  miss  him  until  she 
went  to  call  him  to  breakfast ;  but  he  meant  to 
be  home  before  that  time. 

Night  was  giving  place  to  the  dawn  of  day 
when  he  called  up  the  aunty,  and  stole  noise- 
lessly out  of  the  house,  and  hurried  home. 

Though  the  hour  was  so  early,  it  was  not 
too  early  for  Seth  Russell  to  be  out,  old  and 
presumably  feeble  as  he  was ;  for  he  intercepted 
Thaddeus  at  a  street-crossing,  his  merry  eyes 
twinkling  like  stars,  his  soft  voice  sounding  like 
a  lute,  while  his  benign  countenance  radiated 
the  kindliness  of  his  kind  soul. 

"What  errand  of  mercy  takes  you  out  in 
this  wee  hour?"  he  asked  of  Thaddeus. 

"I  might  answer  by  asking  you  the  same 
question,"  Thaddeus  replied,  grasping  heartily 
the  extended  hand  of  his  friend. 

"I  will  tell  you  if  you  will  answer  me  this: 
How  do  you  suppose  I  know  you  are  a  born 
writer?" 

"  Indeed,  I  can  not  tell,"  Thaddeus  said,  with 
a  smile,  and  a  glow  of  pleasure  at  the  implied 
compliment. 


TWO  ODD  FELLOWS.  75 

"Because  you  have  such  good  ears  for  nold- 
ing  the  pen." 

Thaddeus  stood  watching  the  fast-retreating 
figure  Qt  Seth,  and  finally  burst  out  laughing  at 
his  joke,  and  hastened  homeward,  refreshed  in 
mind  by  that  little  pleasantry  at  such  an  unex- 
pected hour. 

Not  only  Seth  Russell  had  noted  Thad's  de- 
parture from  Tingleman's  house,  but  Billy  Barn- 
well,  the  chief  of  police,  had  also  noted  it ;  and 
as  every  movement  of  the  young  editor  was 
something  for  him  to  report  to  Wendell  Morri- 
son, he  remembered  that  Tingleman  had  an  un- 
savory reputation  in  the  town,  and  was  sus- 
pected of  having  been  a  hard  case  before  he 
came  to  Brarnbleville. 

Thaddeus  left  his  handkerchief  with  Mrs. 
Tingleman ;  for  he  did  not  care  to  take  it  again 
after  her  use  of  it.  It  was  marked  with  his 
name ;  but  it  did  not  occur  to  Thaddeus  that 
it  could  ever  come  up  as  evidence  against  his 
good  name.  But  it  did. 


YIL 

IN  THE  TOILS. 

PUT  Thaddeus  did  not  need  to  keep  up  his 
vigils  at  Tingleman's  home,  though  he  was 
a  frequent  caller  there,  having  become  deeply 
interested  in  the  case.  His  mother  and  some 
of  her  lady  friends  relieved  Thaddeus  of  the 
immediate  care  of  Mrs.  Tingleman. 

Mrs.  Tracy  and  Miss  Josie  were  enlisted  in 
the  behalf  of  the  poor  family,  and  were  assid- 
uous in  their  attention.  One  afternoon  they 
called  just  as  Tingleman  was  leaving  for  work. 
Their  elegant  wraps,  the  sparkling  of  the  dia- 
mond pins  they  wore  in  their  scarfs,  and  the 
richness  of  all  their  attire,  attracted  his  atten- 
tion, and  aroused  in  him  a  passion  that  had  a 
long  time  been  dormant.  Ever  since  he  had  a 
wife,  Tingleman  had  been  an  honest  man  in 
practice ;  for  her  influence  had  kept  in  subjec- 
tion his  true  nature. 

"  Why  should  they  have  all  that  superfluous 
wealth,  and  I  and  mine  in  want?"  he  asked 
himself  that  night.  "They  would  not  feel  the 
loss  of  their  diamonds,  and  what  a  fortune  they 
would  be  to  me !  What  comforts  I  could  buy 
my  wife  1"  The  thought  grew  upon  him,  and  he 
76 


IN  THE  TOILS.  77 

decided  to  have  those  diamonds  that  very  night. 
His  wife  would  never  know ! 

Thaddeus  called  to  see  Miss  Josie,  and  was 
beguiled  into  staying  until  the  clock  in  the 
church-steeple  struck  eleven.  Wendell  Morrison 
was  there,  too ;  but  he  was  closeted  with  Judge 
Tracy,  discussing  an  important  case  in  hand, 
and  had  not  left  when  Thaddeus  quietly  with- 
drew. 

Tingleman  made  a  hurried  visit  to  Judge 
Tracy's  house  in  the  early  evening  to  take  ob- 
servations, and  was  almost  caught  by  Morrison 
as  he  came  up  the  walk;  but  quickly  hiding 
behind  an  evergreen,  he  saw  Morrison  enter, 
and  then  returned  to  the  lumber-yard  in  time 
to  register  at  the  watchman's  post.  At  eleven 
o'clock  he  came  back,  and  seeing  Thaddeus 
leave,  concluded  the  way  was  clear,  and  waited 
until  all  should  become  quiet  in  the  house. 

When  he  saw  the  light  flash  out  of  Miss 
Josie's  window,  and  heard  her  close  the  shutters 
of  her  bedroom  window,  careless  as  to  the  noise 
she  made,  he  boldly  advanced  to  the  parlor  win- 
dows, which  opened  on  the  porch,  reckoning 
that  what  noise  he  made  there  could  not  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  noise  she  was  making  above. 

He  had  masked  his  face  by  tying  over  it  a 
handkerchief — the  very  handkerchief  that  Thad- 
deus had  left  with  Mrs.  Tingleman  the  night  he 


78  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

first  called  there.  Who  could  have  guessed  that 
an  act  of  kindness  could  be  so  used  as  was 
Thaddeus's  wholly  unselfish  ministering  to  the 
need  of  that  afflicted  mother  and  wife? 

Tingleman  opened  the  shutters,  slipped  into 
the  parlor,  leaving  the  window  up  to  insure  an 
exit  if  he  should  be  hurried  in  his  leaving,  and 
pulled  down  the  inside  blind  to  hide  his  move- 
ments from  outside  observation. 

Judge  Tracy,  in  his  study,  heard  the  noise  in 
the  parlor,  but  supposed  it  was  his  daughter  pre- 
paring to  retire. 

In  her  room  above,  Josie  heard  the  noise 
below,  but  knowing  that  her  father  was  down 
there,  supposed  it  was  he  closing  the  shutters 
before  he  came  up-stairs,  forgetting  that  they 
had  been  closed  early  in  the  evening.  She 
forthwith  fell  asleep,  and  dreamed  sweetly  of  fu- 
ture events,  not  one  of  which  gave  her  a  hint  of 
what  the  future  really  held  in  store  for  her. 

Tingleman  was  motionless  at  the  window  for 
several  minutes,  straining  his  ears  to  catch  any 
danger-signal  from  any  part  of  the  house. 

He  reckoned  the  valuables  he  sought  were 
up-stairs,  but  he  determined  first  to  make  a 
hasty  examination  of  the  down-stairs  apart- 
ments. The  information  gained  thereby  would 
stand  him  in  hand  in  future  operations. 

He  softly  crossed  the  floor,  gently  opened  the 


IN  THE  TOILS.  79 

door,  and  slipped  into  the  hall,  his  shoeless  feet 
making  not  a  sound  on  the  rich  carpeting. 

A  light  flickered  under  the  door  at  the  farther 
end  of  the  hall,  where  Judge  Tracy  and  Mor- 
rison were  silently  reading  legal  papers;  but 
after  a  moment's  hesitation,  Tingleinan  con- 
cluded it  was  light  from  a  grate  in  an  office  or 
the  library.  He  listened.  Not  a  sound  from 
the  room ! 

He  struck  a  match,  and  lighted  a  point  of  gas 
in  the  burner  overhead.  The  match  snapped 
viciously,  and  sounded  like  a  small  firecracker, 
and  he  was  for  a  moment  alarmed ;  but  when  no 
sound  of  life  followed  the  snap,  he  grew  bold, 
and  moved  softly  toward  the  door,  beyond  which 
the  two  men  were  reading. 

When  Judge  Tracy  heard  the  window-shutter 
open,  he  thought  it  was  Josie,  and  quietly  read 
on.  Nevertheless  his  ears  were  alert;  for  a 
vague  fear  seized  upon  him,  and  he  heard  the 
match  snap. 

Morrison  heard  the  window-shutter  open,  and 
thought  it  queer ;  for  he  remembered  they  were 
closed  when  he  came,  and  the  judge  had  said 
Thaddeus  was  in  the  parlor.  Though  apparently 
reading,  he  was  listening,  and  he  heard  the 
match  snap  in  the  hall. 

Both  looked  up  at  the  same  instant,  and  to- 
gether turned  their  eyes  toward  the  door,  listen- 


8o  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

ing  breathlessly,  and  found  their  fears  confirmed 
by  the  streak  of  light  that  lay  just  under  the 
door,  out  in  the  hall. 

Both  men  sprang  from  their  chairs,  and  both 
made  signs  for  the  other  not  to  speak. 

Morrison  took  his  place  against  the  wall,  so 
the  least  opening  of  the  door  would  reveal  the 
intruder  to  him  at  once. 

Judge  Tracy  stood  behind  the  door,  facing 
Morrison,  his  hand  on  the  door-knob,  ready  to 
fling  it  open  at  first  alarm. 

Tingleman,  unsuspecting  the  presence  of  the 
two  men,  advanced  cautiously,  and  pushed  open 
the  door  boldly. 

"Villain!"  muttered  Morrison,  springing  for- 
ward, and  grasping  at  the  neck  of  Tingleman. 

Though  surprised,  Tingleman  did  not  run, 
but  dealt  Morrison  a  heavy  blow  that  staggered 
him  a  second. 

"Scoundrel!"  called  Judge  Tracy,  grabbing 
at  Tingleman  irom  behind  the  door. 

Seeing  he  was  overmatched,  Tingleman 
turned  to  flee,  but  not  before  Morrison  returned 
to  the  attack,  and  sought  to  close  with  him  in  a 
catch-as-catch-can  wrestling  match.  Tingieman 
nimbly  evaded  the  embrace;  but  Morrison  caught 
the  handkerchief  off  his  head  as  he  fled,  and  so 
he  escaped  through  the  parlor  window,  as  he 
had  come  in. 


IN  THE  TOILS.  81 

Cries  of  alarm  and  screams  from  above-stairs 
told  the  men  that  Mrs.  Tracy  and  Miss  Josie 
had  been  awakened  by  the  brief  struggle,  and 
were  thoroughly  frightened. 

"  Be  quiet,  dear!  be  quiet,  Josie!  We  are  all 
right.  It  was  a  burglar,  but  he  has  gone  now." 

In  a  very  few  minutes  both  ladies  were  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs,  in  their  wrappers,  listening  to 
the  story  of  the  attack  and  escape  of  the  thief. 

"Papa,"  called  Josie  anxiously,  "do  have 
Mr.  Morrison  stay  until  morning.  The  burglar 
might  come  back  again  !" 

"Hardly  to-night,  my  dear." 

"But  I  am  afraid!" 

"Yes,  have  him  stay,"  pleaded  Mrs.  Tracy. 
"  He  might  come  back  and  bring  help." 

"Foolish  women!"  said  Judge  Tracy. 

"You  would  just  as  soon,  wouldn't  you,  Mr. 
Morrison  ?"  Miss  Josie  added. 

"  Yes,  indeed ;  I  will  find  pleasure  in  staying, 
if  it  will  relieve  your  fears." 

"  I  scolded  Thad  for  staying  so  late  to-night," 
Josie  said,  in  an  undertone  to  her  mother,  while 
the  men  were  talking  below ;  "  but  I  wish  now 
he  hadn't  gone  so  soon."  And  then  she  called 
down  again:  "You  will  stay,  won't  you,  Mr. 
Morrison." 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  he  said,  quickly. 

The  ladies  returned  to  their  rooms,  not  to 

6 


82  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

sleep,  but  to  talk  over  and  over  the  exciting 
episode. 

"  I  shall  keep  the  handkerchief  as  *  trophy 
of  this  affair,"  Morrison  said,  as  he  examined  it 
carefully  in  the  light  of  the  office  lamp,  when 
he  and  Judge  Tracy  returned  there,  after  se- 
curely fastening  the  window  that  had  been 
opened. 

It  was  large  and  of  soft  texture, —  almost 
silken,  so  fine  was  the  linen  of  which  it  was 
woven. 

As  he  rapidly  passed  the  edges  through  his 
hands,  he  discovered  the  name  written  in  a  bold 
hand  in  indelible  ink  on  the  border.  The  dis- 
covery made  his  face  flush,  but  he  discreetly 
held  his  tongue. 

"  I  would,  if  I  were  you.  You  are  certainly 
entitled  to  that  much  of  a  reward  for  your 
promptness.  But  did  he  strike  you  ?" 

"  I  should  think  he  did.  Is  n't  there  a  mark 
here?"  baring  his  forehead  by  lifting  the  heavy 
lock  of  hair  that  lay  just  above  his  eye. 

"There  is,  indeed.  Let  me  call  the  ladies, 
and  have  them  bathe  it  in  arnica." 

"No,  no!  This  is  nothing.  I  will  bathe  it 
in  some  cold  water  before  I  retire,  and  that  will 
be  quite  sufficient" 

"  A  fine  handkerchief,"  the  judge  said,  taking 
hold  of  the  article,  Morrison  the  meanwhile 


IN  THE  TOILS.  83 

holding  in  his  hand  the  corner,  near  which  was 
written  "THADDEUS  THROCKMORTON." 

"  He  must  be  a  toney  fellow,  judging  from 
this,"  Morrison  said,  and  then  put  the  handker- 
chief away. 

The  next  morning,  on  his  way  home,  Mor- 
rison met  Billy,  the  chief  of  police,  and  to  him 
he  related  minutely  the  details  of  the  affair  of 
the  night  before.  Finally,  swearing  him  to  se- 
crecy, he  showed  him  the  handkerchief  and  the 
name  thereon,  and  asked  triumphantly: 

"Now,  what  do  you  think?" 

"That  beats  my  day!" 

Then  they  walked  off  together,  and  what 
schemes  they  devised,  only  the  future  could  tell. 

That  morning  Thaddeus  said  to  his  mother 
at  breakfast: 

"  I  guess  I  will  walk  over  to  Tingleinan's 
to-night  after  supper.  You  have  n't  been  over 
lately,  have  you  ?" 

"  No,  not  for  two  days.  I  wish  you  would 
go,  son.  I  am  afraid  she  can  not  live  long." 

"  I  will,  mother.  It  is  only  two  days  until 
Christinas.  I  wonder  if  anybody  has  thought 
about  Christmas  for  her  children." 

"  I  suppose  not.  They  are  quite  comfortable 
now,  though,  thanks  to  Mrs.  Tracy  and  Josie. 
There  is  hardly  a  thing  they  really  need  that 
they  do  not  furnish  them." 


84  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

The  day  ended  in  a  snowstorm  of  great  vio- 
lence, the  wind  piling  up  great  drifts  wherever 
it  could;  but  that  did  not  deter  Thaddeus  from 
carrying  out  his  intention  of  seeing  that  Tingle- 
man's  children  were  provided  with  Christmas 
gifts. 

He  scarcely  knew  the  place  when  he  entered 
the  door,  so  great  had  been  the  improvements 
made  by  the  ladies  who  had  cared  for  the 
family. 

Mrs.  Tingleman  was  hopefully  counting  on 
another  Christmas  with  her  children,  but  Thad- 
deus felt  that  that  was  to  be  denied  her. 

His  heart  grew  warm  with  sympathy,  and 
his  generosity  outstretched  the  contents  of  his 
pocket-book.  So  taking  out  his  check-book,  he 
wrote  a  check  for  ten  dollars,  and  handed  it  to 
Mrs.  Tingleman,  having  made  it  payable  to 
Henry  Tingleman. 

The  dying  mother's  look  of  thankfulness  was 
all  the  pay  he  needed  for  that  night's  walk 
through  the  storm. 

As  he  turned  from  the  door  into  the  street, 
bowing  his  head  to  shield  his  face  from  the 
blast,  the  chief  of  police  called  to  him : 

"What  on  earth  brought  you  into  such  a 
neighborhood  such  a  night  as  this?" 

"  O !"  said  Thaddeus,  surprised  by  the  un- 
expected meeting,  and  not  wishing  to  advertise 


IN  THE  TOILS.  85 

his  benevolence,  "  I  came  over  to  settle  a  little 
bill  Tingleman  had  against  me." 

"  Do  you  owe  Tingleman  ?  I  supposed  he 
owed  everybody." 

"  Well,  his  family  are  sick,  and  I  owed  him 
a  little.  So  I  came  over  to  settle,  thinking  they 
might  need  it  this  awful  weather." 

Thaddeus  thought  that  a  legitimate  explana- 
tion. He  felt  that  he  did  owe  Tingleman,  as  he 
owed  every  other  human  being  in  distress,  such 
help  and  comfort  as  he  could  give. 

"  He  's  a  hard  customer — a  regular  suspect. 
I  have  to  keep  my  eye  on  him.  That  is  why  I 
am  out  here  to-night,"  the  chief  said,  as  they 
plunged  along  through  the  blinding  storm,  and 
waded  through  the  growing  drifts. 

.  At  the  corner  of  the  square  they  separated 
with  a  simple  "good-night." 

Tingleman  knew  Billy,  the  chief  of  police, 
and  Billy  knew  Tingleman.  More  than  once 
had  they  drunk  at  the  same  bar,  and  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  same  person.  But  it  must  be  said 
of  both  that  lately  they  had  seldom  met  in  the 
saloons ;  for  Billy  had  been  informed  by  those 
in  authority  that  his  star  depended  on  his  keep- 
ing perfectly  sober,  and  Tingleman  loved  his 
wife  too  well  to  grieve  her  last  days  on  earth  by 
drunken  indifference ;  and  more  than  that  he  in- 
tended to  commence  his  old  business  again  soon, 


86  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

and  a  thief  must  have  a  clear  brain  and  a  steady 
hand. 

The  next  day,  however,  just  at  nightfall, 
they  met 

"  Hello,  Billy !" 

"  Hello,  Henry !" 

"Cash  a  check  for  me,  Billy  ?" 

"  How  much  ?     If  it  is  not  too  big." 

"  Ten  dollars,  only." 

"  Yes ;  step  inside  this  store,  sign  it  on  the 
back,  and  I  will  cash  it  for  you,"  Billy  said,  after 
looking  at  the  check. 

"What  luck!"  exclaimed  Billy  to  himself, 
after  Tingleman  had  gone.  "  Just  to  think  !  I 
have  Thad's  check  to  Tingleman  in  my  posses- 
sion !  Well,  well ;  that  is  a  good  ten-dollar  in- 
vestment." He  hurried  to  Wendell  Morrison 
with  the  news  of  his  good  luck. 

"  Can  you  cash  a  check  for  me  to-night,  old 
fel?"  he  asked  Wendell,  as  he  rushed  into  his 
office. 

"  Guess  so.     How  much  ?" 

"  Only  ten,"  handing  the  check  to  Wendell, 
and  then  stepping  back  to  study  the  expression 
of  his  face  when  he  should  see  what  check  it  was. 

"  Great  guns !     Where  did  you  get  this  ?" 

"  Of  Tingleman !" 

"And  Throckmorton  was  at  Tingleman's 
house,  you  say?" 


IN  THE  TOILS.  87 

"  H-u  was.     I  saw  him  come  out  myself." 

"  Bwlly  boy,  Billy !"  Morrison  said,  handing 
him  two  five-dollar  bills  in  exchange  for  the 
check.  "  Now  if  you  can  catch  Tingleman 
breaking  into  a  house,  the  handkerchief  and  this 
check  will  make  Throcky  sweat!" 

"  You  bet !" 

"  Of  course  we  can  not  come  out  and  accuse 
him  of  anything ;  but  we  can  get  up  an  awful 
smoke,  and  can  arouse  suspicion." 

"  And  it  does  look  suspicious,"  Billy  urged. 

"It  does,  for  a  fact.  And  the  looks  is  all  we 
need  at  present." 

"  I  '11  catch  'em  yet." 

The  chief  of  police  went  out  chuckling  with 
delight,  intent  not  so  much  on  catching  a  real 
thief  as  on  mixing  an  honest  and  unsuspecting 
man  with  disreputable  characters,  and  thereby 
ruining  him  politically  and  socially. 

The  door  had  hardly  closed  after  him  before 
it  opened  again,  and  Seth  Russell  slipped  in 
noiselessly,  and,  approaching  Morrison  as  he 
leaned  back  in  his  office-chair,  said  earnestly : 

"  I  heard  you  sing  at  the  music  ale  the  other 
night,  my  son !" 

"  Were  you  there,  Seth  ?  I  am  surprised  ! 
Good  time,  though !" 

"  Yes,  I  was  there.  Do  you  know  what  I 
would  do  if  I  had  a  voice  like  yours  ?" 


88  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

u  No.  What  would  you  do,  Seth  ?"  Morrison 
asked,  flattered  by  the  question  and  its  implica- 
tion, knocking  the  ashes  off  his  cigar  with  his 
little  finger,  and  holding  it  poised  in  mid-air  for 
a  second. 

"  I  would  come  in  heavy  on  the  refrain  I" 
Hurrying  to  the  door,  Seth  disappeared  down- 
stairs, and  was  out  of  hearing  before  Morrison 
comprehended  that  the   compliment  was  left- 
handed. 


THE  BURGLAR  CAUGHT. 

¥R.  tYCURGUS  LYSANDER  waa  a  well- 
known  character  in  Brambleville,  and  en- 
joyed the  distinction  of  being  brother-in-law  to 
Judge  Tracy,  for  the  wife  of  the  latter  was  Mr. 
Lysander's  sister. 

He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  a  digni- 
fied but  eccentric  gentleman  by  practice. 

He  was  inheritor  of  great  possessions,  and 
needed  no  income  from  his  business,  having 
plenty  of  time  for  his  practice,  and  large  leisure 
for  his  profession. 

He  was  small  of  stature,  but  had  a  large  head, 
on  which  he  wore  a  broad-brim  soft  hat.  He 
wrapped  his  body  in  a  huge  cloak  that  nearly 
reached  his  heels. 

His  feet  were  small ;  his  steps  short,  quick, 
and  decided,  but  exceedingly  light;  and  his 
movement  suggestive  of  thoughtful  unconcern. 

In  manner  he  was  formal  in  the  extreme,  but 
rather  diffident.  In  conversation  slow,  precise, 
and  pedantic. 

Mirth  was  a  stranger  to  him,  and  intentional 
flippancy  a  disgrace,  if  not  a  sin ;  and  yet  no  one 

89 


90  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

man  in  Brambleville  was  the  cause  of  so  much 
mirthfulness,  and  no  one  the  subject  of  so  many 
flippant  remarks. 

A  broad,  high  forehead  made  his  small  eyes 
seem  smaller,  and  his  little  nose  look  less  than  it 
really  was.  Thin  lips  marked  the  boundary  of 
a  wide  mouth  that  stretched  beyond  the  sides 
of  a  pointed  chin  which  glistened  like  a  ball  of 
polished  ivory. 

His  undertakings  were  always  important,  be- 
cause he  would  never  undertake  an  unimportant 
work ;  and  every  task  essayed  received  his  undi- 
vided attention  and  best  endeavor. 

Mrs.  Tracy  was  devotedly  attached  to  her 
brother,  and  was  blind  to  his  eccentricities,  and 
keenly  alive  to  his  acquirements  in  science  and 
law ;  for  he  was  well  read,  and  moreover  a  con- 
stant student  of  books. 

The  judge  was  tolerant  of  his  brother-in-law, 
and  sometimes  condescended!  to  be  amused  by 
his  quibbles  and  quirks. 

Their  residences  occupied  adjoining  grounds, 
which  were  of  park-like  dimensions,  abounding 
in  shrubbery,  and  traversed  by  intersecting  paths 
and  driveways,  which  curved  and  twisted  around 
mounds  and  between  trees  and  flowering  plants. 

Mr.  Lysander  went  to  his  office  regularly  at 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  took  lunch  down 
town  at  noon,  and  returned  home  at  five  o'clock 


THE  BURGLAR  CAUGHT.  91 

in  the  afternoon  for  dinner.  From  this  pro- 
gram there  was  no  deviation. 

After  dinner  he  gave  personal  attention  to 
one  Jersey  cow  and  one  very  gentle  horse.  That 
was  his  diversion. 

"  I  find,"  he  often  said,  by  way  of  explaining 
the  reason  for  this  work,  "it  very  conducive  to 
the  restoration  of  my  mental  equilibrium  after 
exhaustive  application  to  the  intricacies  of  juris- 
prudence to  contemplate  the  confiding  and  con- 
stant character  of  bovine  and  equine  natures. 
To  administer  to  their  wants,  and  witness  their 
silent  but  effective  thankfulness,  tends  to  the 
abatement  of  selfish  sentiments." 

No  lady  attiring  herself  for  a  brilliant  recep- 
tion gave  greater  care  to  her  dress  than  did  Mr. 
Lysander  when  arraying  himself  to  go  out  to 
feed  his  cow  and  horse.  His  costume  for  this 
work  had  been  made  to  order,  and  was  never 
worn  on  any  other  occasion.  It  was  made 
large,  so  he  could  put  it  on  over  his  other 
clothes,  after  removing  his  coat.  The  hat  was 
a  palmetto  that  had  belonged  to  a  Southern 
planter  before  the  war. 

The  burglarious  attempt  on  Judge  Tracy's 
house  greatly  incensed  Mr.  Lysander. 

"  A  most  ungentlemanly  procedure,"  he  as- 
severated the  next  morning,  when  Mrs.  Tracy 
told  him  about  it, 


92  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  So  It  was,  Lycurgus,"  she  assented ;  "  but  1 
am  glad  he  did  not  succeed." 

"  Was  the  perturbation  of  James  very  marked, 
as  you  now  recall  the  scene?" 

"  O,  he  was  excited,  of  course,  but  quite  cool 
and  collected  nevertheless." 

"  From  your  account  of  the  affair,  I  infer  that 
the  behavior  of  Mr.  Wendell  Morrison  was  com- 
mendable in  the  highest  degree,  and  worthy 
the  honor  of  knighthood,  if  it  could  be  bestowed 
in  this  age  of  the  world." 

"  Indeed,  Mr.  Morrison  was  more  than  brave. 
He  was  valiant  and  energetic.  He  insists  on 
keeping  the  handkerchief  as  a  trophy  of  the 
contest." 

"  I  sincerely  trust  the  ungentlemanly  person 
or  persons  were  so  completely  terrorized  by  Mr. 
Morrison  as  to  be  deterred  from  burglariously 
entering  my  residence.  He  probably  is  aware 
of  my  comparatively  defenseless  condition ;  but  I 
believe  I  would  defend  my  castle  with  my  life, 
were  he  or  they  to  come." 

"  What  would  you  do,  brother,  if  you  should 
find  some  one  in  your  house?" 

"  If  he  should  not  escape  by  precipitous  flight, 
after  having  received  due  warning  of  the  conse- 
quences if  he  did  not  flee,  I  believe  I  should  as- 
sault him  with  whatever  murderous  weapon  I 
could  seize  upon  at  the  time," 


THE  BURGLAR  CAUGHT.  93 

"Well,  I  hope  you  will  not  have  an  occasion 
to  prove  your  courage  and  strength,"  Mrs.  Tracy 
said,  and  the  conversation  drifted  into  other 
channels. 

That  night  supper  was  late  at  Mr.  Lysan- 
der's — a  very  unusual  occurrence  at  that  home — 
and  Mr.  Lysander  donned  his  stable  costume, 
and  went  to  feed  Lady  Jane  Grey  and  Pegasus. 

He  returned  just  as  supper  was  announced, 
and  hastily  removed  his  costume,  and  deposited 
it  on  a  high-back  arm-chair  in  the  sitting- 
room — a  very  careless  act  that  was  not  at  all 
like  him ;  but  he  chose  that  in  preference  to 
being  late  to  the  table. 

After  an  hour  at  the  dinner-table  with  his 
family,  discoursing  learnedly  at  intervals  upon 
every  subject  mentioned,  he  excused  himself, 
and  returned  to  the  sitting-room,  dimly  lighted 
by  the  hall  gas  that  shone  through  the  transom. 

"Good-evening,  sir!"  he  said,  bowing  to  the 
figure  his  cast-off  clothes  made  when  he  had  put 
them  on  the  chair.  But  the  figure  was  power- 
less to  return  the  polite  salutation,  much  to  Mr. 
Lysander's  regret  and  surprise. 

"What  gives  me  the  honor  of  this  unex- 
pected visit?"  he  ventured  to  remark. 

He  felt  his  hair  assuming  an  erect  position, 
and  chill  after  chill  chased  each  other  down  his 
back;  but  he  stood  his  ground  bravely. 


94  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"May  I  take  your  hat,  sir?" 

He  stretched  out  his  hand  to  receive  the 
palmetto;  but  the  chair  was  unable  to  give  it 
to  him. 

"Would  you  dine  with  us?  Dinner  is  just 
ready,"  he  stammered. 

His  own  shoes  creaked  as  he  moved  uneasily ; 
but  he  thought  it  was  the  creaking  of  the  chair 
where  the  clothes  hung.  The  gas  flared  and 
flickered,  and  the  hat  and  coat  seemed  to  move ; 
but  no  voice  was  heard.  Mr.  Lysander  felt  it 
was  time  for  vigorous  measures. 

"I  am  amazed  at  your  utter  indifference  to  all 
rules  of  politeness !"  he  said,  with  stronger  voice 
and  some  show  of  asperity. 

But  the  hat  said  nothing. 

"Sir,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  ask  you  to  with- 
draw at  once !" 

But  the  breeches  made  no  attempt  to  move. 

"In  the  event  of  your  refusing,  I  shall  .be 
obliged  to  go  for  the  police ;  and  prudent  care 
for  your  reputation,  if  not  personal  comfort, 
would  suggest  avoidance  of  that  trouble,"  he 
said,  huskily. 

The  figure  did  not  feel  alarmed  at  this  threat, 
and  was  silent  and  motionless  as  ever. 

He  retreated  until  he  was  near  the  dining- 
room  door. 

"Mrs.  Lysander!" 


THE  BURGLAR  CAUGHT.  95 

"Yes,  dear."  ^ 

"Do  not  come  in,  Mrs.  Lysander;  but  lock  the 
door  from  that  side.  I  have  a  burglar  trapped." 

"O  Lycurgus!"  screamed  his  wife- 

"O  papal  papa!" 

With  screams  and  cries  of  terror,  his  daugh- 
ters rushed  about  the  dining-room,  wringing 
their  hands,  and  adding  to  their  father's  fright 
by  their  very  extremity  of  fear. 

"O  dear!  O  dear  me!  What  shall  we  do? 
O  dear!"  they  cried. 

Mrs.  Lysander  locked  the  door  and  bolted  it, 
and,  to  make  it  more  secure,  held  the  knob  with 
both  hands,  and  pressed  against  it  with  all  her 
might,  forgetting  that  she  was  locking  her  hus- 
band in,  as  well  as  locking  the  burglar  out. 

After  a  time  the  ladies  became  quiet,  and 
ventured  to  ask,  through  the  locked  door : 

"  Papa,  are  you  there  ?" 

But  there  was  no  answer. 

"My  dear,"  pleaded  Mrs.  Lysander,  "do  an- 
swer us !  Are  you  there  ?" 

But  there  was  no  response  from  beyond  the 
door,  nor  any  noise  to  indicate  there  was  any 
life  there. 

"Is  my  papa  killed?  O! — what  was  that?" 
one  of  his  daughters  cried. 

A  voice  from  the  door-yard  reached  their  ears. 
It  was  their  father's. 


96  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"I  have  left  the  door  open.  If  you  wish  to 
escape  the  vengeance  of  the  law,  now  is  your 
chance !" 

"  It  is  papa  calling  to  the  man  to  come  out. 
Papa  is  safe  anyhow!  I  am  glad  of  that!"  the 
other  daughter  exclaimed. 

"  Police  !  police  !  POLICE  !  p-o-l-t-c-e  /" 

Mr.  I<ysander  was  lifting  up  his  voice  m  a 
very  undignified  manner,  and  with  something  of 
fright  in  its  tremulousness. 

"Where  are  you,  papa?" 

"Here  I  am,  behind  this  evergreen,  my  dear. 
I  am  willing  the  burglar  should  have  a  chance 
for  his  life.  If  he  will  let  me  alone,  I  will  not 
disturb  him." 

"Has  he  hurt  you,  papa?" 

"Not  much,  daughter — not  any,  really;  and 
I  am  willing  to  let  him  off  at  that." 

"Has  he  gone,  papa?" 

"No,  daughter.  He  still  sits  there.  I  see 
him  from  here." 

"  Go,  call  the  police,  papa !" 

"I  can  not,  dear.  My  duty  is  here.  I  must 
defend  my  home,  and  protect  my  family.  I  will 
not  run  from  any  danger  while  they  are  ex- 
posed !" 

"  Papa,  come  in  here !     Come  in  here,  papa !" 

"  I  can  not.  He  will  not  let  me,  I  am  sure. 
I  wish  I  could.  Police !  police  1" 


THE  BURGLAR  CAUGHT.  97 

"Well!"  a  voice  called  from  the  street.  "Who 
wants  police  1" 

"Mr.  Lycurgus  Lysander.  I  have  a  burglar 
caught,  and  can  not  let  him  go.  Are  you  a 
policeman  ?" 

"  No ;  but  I  am  Thaddeus  Throckmorton. 
WTiat  can  I  do  for  you?" 

"Would  you  mind  asking  that  burglar  in  the 
house  to  come  out,  before  the  police  come  and 
take  him  out?" 

"A  burglar?  In  the  house?  Why  are  you 
here?" 

"  Lycurgus,  is  that  you?  What  is  the  matter? 
We  heard  the  girls  screaming,  and  have  come 
down  to  see  what  can  be  the  matter  here." 

"O  my  sister!"  he  said,  answering  Mrs.  Tracy's 
question,  "  Heaven  has  sent  you,  I  am  sure.  A 
burglar  is  in  our  house,  and  will  not  come  out." 

"A  queer  burglar!  Ours  would  not  stay. 
You  must  be  mistaken,  Lycurgus !" 

The  meantime,  Thaddeus  advanced  to  the 
open  door,  and  entered  the  dining-room.  For  a 
second  he  was  startled  by  the  outline  of  a  man 
sitting  in  a  chair,  and  he  hesitated ;  but  only  for 
a  second.  Going  up  to  the  chair,  he  discovered 
the  real  cause  of  the  alarm,  and  called  out : 

"Bring  a  light,  Mrs.  Lysander,  or  open  the 
door,  and  I  will  show  you  the  burglar.  But  it  is 
no  burglar  at  alL" 


98  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

Reassured  by  his  confident  tones,  Mrs.  Ly- 
sander  opened  the  door,  and  brought  a  light,  fol- 
lowed timidly  by  the  girls. 

"Is  that  all!" 

She  sank  into  a  chair,  and  was  dumb  with 
confusion. 

"Come,  see  your  burglar,  papa!"  one  ol  the 
girls  called  to  her  father,  who  was  yet  in  the 
darkness,  behind  the  evergreen-tree,  giving  his 
sister  a  minute  account  of  all  the  happenings  of 
the  few  preceding  minutes.  There  was  laughter 
in  the  voice,  and  Mrs.  Tracy  said : 

"  It  was  all  a  mistake,  I  am  sure,  Lycurgus," 
and  at  once  hurried  into  the  house,  closely  fol- 
lowed by  Josie,  and  after  her,  Mr.  Lysander. 

"It  fooled  me,  in  the  dark,"  said  Thaddeus, 
gallantly,  noticing  how  ashamed  Mr.  Lysander 
looked,  as  he  saw  the  cause  of  his  fright  clearly 
revealed  in  the  glare  of  the  gas  now  lighted  in 
the  room. 

"Burglars  are  either  just  ahead  of  you  or 
just  after  you,"  Mrs.  Tracy  said  to  Thaddeus, 
referring  to  his  presence  at  their  house  the  night 
of  their  experience  in  that  line. 

"But  this  is  not  a  burglar,"  Thaddeus  said, 
coloring  visibly,  in  spite  of  his  effort  not  to ;  for 
somehow  Mrs.  Tracy's  manner,  as  well  as  words, 
impressed  him  as  expressing  suspicion.  But 
why  should  they?  At  once  he  was  uneasy,  and 


THE  BURGLAR  CAUGHT.  99 

wished  he  had  not  answered  the  call  of  the  fright- 
ened lawyer. 

"It  is  nice  to  have  you  around,"  whispered 
Josie,  as  she  came  to  his  side,  "whether  with 
burglars  or  alone." 

"Thank  you  !     But  I  must  go." 

"Go  with  us,  will  you?"  she  said,  earnestly. 

"  Not  now,  Josie.     Wish  I  could." 

His  heart  was  heavy  as  stone,  but  he  could 
not  tell  why.  He  wanted  to  go  with  Josie ;  but 
Mrs.  Tracy's  remark  had  wounded  him  so  sorely 
that  he  must  needs  go  off  alone  for  his  hurt 
to  heal. 

"  I  will  bid  you  good-night !"  he  said,  bowing 
and  stepping  back  toward  the  door. 

"Good-night!"  said  Mr.  Lysander. 

But  no  one  thanked  him  for  his  services,  nor 
asked  him  to  stay  longer.  Josie  turned  a  lov- 
ing glance  upon  him ;  but  Mrs.  Tracy  looked 
coldly  indifferent,  he  thought,  and  so  he  hurried 
away. 

A  small  boy,  passing  toward  town  when  Mr. 
Lysander  was  most  lustily  calling  for  police,  gave 
wings  to  his  feet,  and  sped  on,  hunting  for  a  po- 
liceman until  he  found  one,  and  brought  him  to 
investigate  the  cause  of  the  outcry,  going  with 
him  to  share  in  the  honor  of  coming  to  the 
rescue. 

"For  heaven's   sake,   Lycurgus,"  said   Mrs. 


ioo  AN  ODD  FELLOW 

Tracy,  "do  not  let  this  get  out!     Think  of  what 
a  laughing-stock  we  will  all  become  !" 

"/will  not  speak  of  it,  my  sister,"  he  said, 
humbly. 

"And  /  will  not,"  she  said,  "nor  Josie,  either; 
and,  of  course,  your  wife  and  daughters  will  not ; 
so  I  guess  it  is  safe  with  us." 

"  But,  then,  Mr.  Throckmorton  knows  it,  and 
he  will  put  it  in  the  paper,"  said  one  of  the  young 
ladies,  in  horror. 

"No,  he  will  not,"  said  Josie,  decidedly;  "I 
will  guarantee  that.  I  will  ask  him  not  to." 

"I  wish  you  would,"  Mr.  Lysander  said,  al- 
most pleadingly. 

"  Did  you  call  for  the  police  ?" 

The  voice  came  from  the  yard,  where  the  po- 
liceman stood,  looking  across  the  porch  through 
the  open  door  into  the  room  where  all  were 
seated. 

"No!  yes!  why — that  is,  we  had  a  little  scare; 
but  it  is  all  over,"  Mr.  Lysander  said,  going  to 
the  door. 

"What  was  it  all  about?"  the  officer  asked,  in 
lower  tones. 

"Well,  we  thought  there  was  a  burglar  here, 
but  we  found  out  better." 

"So  no  one  has  been  here  but  your  own 
folks — your  family,  and  Mrs.  Tracy  and  her 
daughter  ?" 


THE  BURGLAR  CAUGHT.  101 

"  No ;  that  is,  only  one  other.  Mr.  Thaddeus 
Throckmorton  was  here,  in  the  midst  of  our 
fright ;  but  he  has  gone." 

"And  there  was  no  burglar  that  you  could 
see,  and  no  one  here  but  Thad  ?" 

"That  is  all." 

"  But  you  thought  you  saw  some  one  prowling 
around?" 

"  No,  not  prowling,  but  in  the  house." 

"And  what  was  it?" 

"  Well,  you  see,  when  I  got  in  from  the  yard, 
Mr.  Throckmorton  had  the  gas  lighted,  and  he 
was  the  only  one  I  saw  here." 

"  I  see !     But  he  was  in  the  house  ?" 

"Yes,  when  I  came  in." 

"Who  was  first  in  the  room  after  you  saw  the 
burglar,  or  thought  you  saw  him  ?" 

"As  I  said  before,  Mr.  Throckmorton  was  the 
first." 

"I  see!" 

When  the  Banner  came  out  next  day  it  had 
no  mention  of  the  affair ;  for  Josie  had  kept  her 
promise,  and  had  asked  that  no  reference  be 
made  to  the  episode. 

But  the  police  and  their  friends  had  a  story 
to  tell,  and  they  told  it  with  much  gusto  and 
many  a  sly  wink.  In  substance  it  was,  that  Mr. 
Lysander's  house  had  been  broken  into,  and  the 
only  person  seen  near  there  that  night  was  Thad- 


102  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

deus  Throckmorton.  To  this  they  added  that 
the  chief  of  police  knew  something  about  the 
attempt  on  Judge  Tracy's  house  that  reflected 
no  honor  on  the  young  editor. 

But  Thaddeus  was  giving  his  attention  to  acts 
of  mercy  the  meanwhile. 

"  Will  you — tell  me — good-bye,  dear  ?" 

Mrs.  Tingleman  turned  her  head  slowly  to- 
ward her  husband,  as  he  was  about  to  leave  the 
room. 

"  I  did  tell  you  good-bye,  my  little  wifie ;  did 
you  forget?" 

"Yes — I — know.  I — did — not — forget,  dear; 
but  I  —  am  —  going — to  leave — you,  and — I 
want — to  tell — you — good-bye  again." 

"No,  no,  little  one;  don't  say  that.  You 
must  not  leave  me !  Who  will  love  me  then  ?" 

"  God,  my  dear.  God  loves  you  now,  and — 
will  always — love  you." 

"  No,  no ;  God  hates  your  Henry,  little  wifie. 
No  one  loves  me  but  you ;  and  now  you  are 
going  away !" 

"  God  loves  you,  Henry, — my  dear — husband. 
He  sent  his — children — to  us, — Mr.  Throckmor- 
ton, Mrs.  Tracy,  and  Miss — Josie — and  all, — be- 
cause he  loves  you." 

"  They  came  to  you,  my  little  wife,  not  to  me" 

Then  Henry  Tingleman's  heart  smote  him 
hard.  He  remembered  how  he  had  repaid  Mrs. 


THE  BURGLAR  CAUGHT.  103 

Tracy's  kindness  by  attempting  to  rob  her  of  her 
diamonds. 

"  They — came  to  you — too,"  she  said,  faintly. 
"  My  Henry  is  so  good  to  me." 

Henry  Tingleman  bowed  his  head  and  wept. 
His  wife's  words  were  true.  He  did  love  her 
tenderly,  and  he  cared  for  her  in  her  sickness 
with  all  the  thoughtfulness  possible. 

"Henry?" 

"  Yes,  my  darling." 

"  Do — not — go — away  from — me — to-night !" 

"  I  will  not.  I  will  not  1"  His  heart  was 
breaking. 

"Henry?" 

"  Well,  wifie,  my  little  one,"  he  almost  sobbed. 

"Don't  drink  any  more,  will  you?" 

"No,"  he  answered  quickly;  but  his  heart 
was  not  in  his  word,  and  she  knew  it. 

"  Do  rft  drink  any  more.  The — children, — 
Henry;  the — children!" 

Her  voice  was  husky,  and  her  eyes  full  of 
tears. 

"  No,  little  one.  I  promise  you,  no  /"  and  his 
voice  betrayed  the  depth  of  his  feeling  quite  as 
much  as  the  tear  that  glistened  for  an  instant  in 
his  eye. 

"  Will  you  stay — to-night  ?" 

"Yes;  I  will  not  leave  you;  but  I  must  go 
and  tell  them  to  get  some  one  else." 


104  AM  ODD  FELLOW. 

"Yes,  go,"  she  said  contentedly,  and  then 
made  herself  comfortable  to  await  his  return. 
As  he  was  about  to  pass  out  she  called :  "Henry? 
Will  —  you  —  ask  —  Mr. — Throckmorton — to — 
tell — me — good-bye  ?" 

"Yes,  my  little  one,"  pulling  his  hat  close 
down  over  his  eyes. 

"And  —  Mrs. — Tracy —  and — Mr. — Mr. — the 
minister?" 

"  Yes,  yes,"  he  said,  his  hand  on  the  door- 
knob, anxious  to  be  away  that  he  might  get  back 
before  the  death  angel  called,  for  he  knew  he 
was  coming  that  very  night. 

The  children  were  in  the  other  room  with 
Aunty  Day,  who  had  been  their  nurse  since  the 
first  one  was  taken  ill. 

Henry  Tingleman  closed  the  door  behind 
him,  and  went  directly  to  the  office  of  the  lum- 
ber company,  knowing  they  would  not  leave 
until  six.  He  found  the  clerk  in,  and  easily 
made  arrangement  for  some  one  to  watch  for 
him  that  night. 

"  How  is  your  wife?"  asked  the  clerk,  as 
Henry  was  about  to  leave  the  office. 

The  words  were  cold  and  formal,  spoken  out 
of  a  sense  of  propriety  rather  than  from  a  feeling 
of  sympathy.  Henry  paused,  held  the  door-latch 
a  moment,  rallied  his  senses,  beat  back  his  emo- 
tion, and  said,  with  an  effort  to  be  calm : 


THE  BURGLAR  CAUGHT.  105 

"  She  will  soon  be  well — I  hope !" 

He  left  the  office,  and  started  for  Thad's 
house. 

When  he  left  his  own  house,  a  policeman,  who 
had  been  waiting,  hidden  from  view,  followed 
him  to  the  lumber-yard,  and  kept  close  behind 
him  as  he  hurried  to  Thaddeus's  home. 

He  was  not  at  home,  but  his  mother  recog- 
nized Tingleman,  took  his  message,  and  said  she 
would  herself  go  for  the  minister. 

That  was  the  night  Thad's  weekly  went  to 
press,  and  he  was  always  late  that  night. 

Henry  Tingleman  went  directly  home,  and 
was  shadowed  all  the  way  by  the  policeman. 
When  he  entered  his  house,  the  officer  secreted 
himself  to  await  his  coming  out.  He  had  no 
doubt  he  would  appear  after  a  little.  While  he 
waited,  Thaddeus  came.  The  policeman  saw  his 
face  distinctly  in  the  light  from  the  door  when 
it  was  opened  to  admit  him. 

The  minister  was  out  of  town.  Mrs.  Tracy 
had  not  been  called  by  Tingleman.  He  could 
not  find  it  in  his  heart  to  go  there  for  her.  His 
wife  did  not  notice  the  omission  of  that  part  of 
her  request. 

The  policeman  waited  for  an  hour,  for  two ; 
but  Tingleman  and  Thaddeus  did  not  come  out. 
He  left,  and  reported  to  the  chief  what  he  had 
seen.  It  was  enough. 


106  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

In  the  last  hours  of  her  earth-life,  Henry's 
wife  committed  him  to  the  care  and  help  of  Mr. 
Throckmorton. 

"  He,"  she  said  gaspingly,  her  thin  and  fever- 
scarred  lips  trembling  under  the  burden  of  the 
message  they  bore,  "has — never — never — been 
cross — to— me.  If — he — would — never— drink 
again, — all — would — be — well.  Help — him, — 
for — the — children's  sake.  You — will ;  won't — 
you  ?" 

Thaddeus  could  not  keep  the  tears  back,  as 
he  watched  the  face  of  the  faithful  wife,  and 
noted  the  love-light  that  beamed  just  a  second 
from  the  eyes  fast  losing  their  power  to  see,  and 
he  said,  earnestly : 

"  I  will  help  him,  Mrs.  Tingleman.  God 
being  my  helper,  I  will  help  him." 

"  You,"  she  said  to  Henry,  who  knelt  by  her 
side,  "will  —  let  —  him  —  help  —  you.  He  is — 
God's— child— I  know !  Will— you  ?" 

He  bowed  his  head,  kissed  his  wife's  hand, 
and  rained  tears  upon  it. 

"  The— children  ?     I—" 

She  looked  at  Thaddeus,  and  then  at  her  hus- 
band, seemingly  in  doubt  what  to  say. 

"  What — is — it — wine,  my  little  one?"  Henry 
asked. 

"The — children, — his  mother,"  looking  to- 
ward Thaddeus.  Rallying  her  fast-failing 


THE  BURGLAR  CAUGHT.  107 

strength,  she  said :  "  Will — she — take — take — 
take — the — children  ?" 

"  The  children  will  be  taken  care  of,  Mrs. 
Tingleman,"  Thaddeus  said. 

"  Will — your — mother — " 

"  Yes  ;  mother  will  see  to  them." 

"  And — you — will — see — to — my — husband  ?" 

The  last  word  was  spoken  so  tenderly — was 
uttdred  with  so  much  soul — that  Henry  groaned 
aloud  in  agony,  realizing  that  soon  that  true 
heart  would  be  still  in  death. 

"Let  me  go  for  some  one?"  said  Thaddeus, 
rising  hastily. 

"  No — no !"  Mrs.  Tingleman  said,  pleadingly. 
"  You — and — Henry — enough." 

u  Do  n't  go,"  said  Henry.  "  It  is  no  use.  She 
does  n't  want  any  one.  I  would  rather  be  here 
alone  with  you." 

"  My  dear  man,  your  wife  is  dying.  Let  me 
call  in  some  of  the  neighbors.  Wake  up  the 
children,  or  Aunty  Day!" 

Mrs.  Tingleman  shook  her  head,  and  said 
again :  "  You, — Henry." 

"  She  must  have  her  own  way,"  Henry  said, 
soothingly,  kneeling  and  pillowing  his  head  close 
beside  that  of  his  wife,  clasping  her  two  hands  in 
one  of  his,  while  with  the  other  he  softly  stroked 
her  face. 

"  She  is  asleep,"  said   Thaddeus,  presently. 


108  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

11  Go  sit  by  the  fire.  You  must  be  tired,  kneel- 
ing there  so  long." 

Henry  arose,  and  went  away  a  few  minutes, 
leaving  Thaddeus  to  watch.  After  a  little  while 
he  returned,  and  together  they  sat  until  the  gray 
dawn  tinged  the  east  with  light.  Then  Thad- 
deus went  home. 

Before  he  left  he  called  the  neighbors ;  for 
Mrs.  Tingleman's  voice  could  no  longer  protest. 
She  had  gone  away  forever. 

"What  unearthly  hours  you  keep!"  said  the 
chief  of  police,  as  he  overtook  Thaddeus  just  as 
the  gaslights  were  being  put  out  along  the 
streets. 

"  It  is  rather  suspicious,"  Thaddeus  said, 
laughingly,  and  passed  on,  not  heeding  the 
chief's  words  as  he  called  out : 

"  I  will  have  to  keep  my  eye  on  you." 


IX. 

THE  SELECT  SCHOOL. 

"D  RAMBLEVILLE  had  a  school  that  received 
,J — '  no  State  or  county  aid,  graduated  no  stu- 
dents, gave  no  diplomas;  but  yet  was  popular 
and  well  attended,  and  was  a  feature  of  the 
town — quite  as  much  so  as  its  court-house  or  its 
jail,  its  cemetery  or  its  system  of  water-works. 

The  school  was  known  as  Professor  Heart- 
breaks's  Academy,  because  the  professor  owned 
the  building  in  which  the  school  assembled  daily, 
and  because  he  kept  the  books.  He  was  not  a 
professor  of  languages,  nor  of  sciences,  but  of  art; 
and  his  especial  work  lay  in  the  direction  of 
broken  pumps,  all  of  which  he  restored,  on  short 
notice,  to  their  original  usefulness.  Or,  failing 
in  that,  he  substituted  a  new  pump  for  the 
broken  one.  Therein  was  his  gain.  His  busi- 
ness was  to  keep  school,  but  he  sold  pumps  to 
pay  expenses. 

The  professor  was  an  oddity.  Look  at  his 
picture.  He  was  tall — quite  tall — and  bent  a 
little  in  the  middle,  as  if  his  life  had  been  spent 
in  walking  in  places  too  low  for  him.  His  form 
was  spare,  and  his  arms  and  legs  seemed  like 

109 


1 1 0  AN  ODD  FELLO  W. 

t 

gas-pipe  appendages.  His  head  was  long  up 
and  down,  rather  broad  at  the  top,  and  decidedly 
narrow  at  the  chin,  tapering  down  to  a  point  at 
the  extremity  of  his  auburn  whiskers,  which  de- 
pended from  his  chin 

Whoever  took  the  professor  for  a  novice  or 
an  easy  victim  to  any  scheme,  reckoned  always 
without  his  host. 

His  favorite  position  was  on  his  high  stool 
at  his  high  desk  in  one  corner  of  his  shop.  Sit- 
ting on  this  perch,  his  feet  on  the  rungs  of  the 
stool,  he  whittled  away  at  a  piece  of  soft  pine, 
grinding  slowly  between  his  teeth  a  generous 
supply  of  best  fine-cut  tobacco.  His  whittling 
was  not  the  aimless  cutting  of  a  stick,  but  was 
the  work  of  carving  out  some  tool  or  toy — a 
knife,  a  shovel,  a  chain,  or  a  gun.  The  only 
condition  imposed  on  those  who  attended  his 
school  was  that  they  should  not  sit  idly  by,  but 
should  whittle;  and  should  not  whittle  aim- 
lessly, but  must  whittle  something  out  of  the 
soft,  straight  pine  which  he  furnished. 

Hence  the  sides  of  hL  shop  were  covered 
with  specimens  of  the  handiwork  of  the  pupils. 
These  consisted  of  boats,  chains,  swords,  guns, 
puzzles,  pumps,  balls,  bats,  barrels,  and  so  on, 
and  so  on,  and  so  on. 

The  seats  of  the  school  were  trestles,  benches, 
broken  chairs,  sticks  of  wood  on  ends,  barrels, 


THE  SELEC7  SCHOOL.  ill 

boxes,  and  boards,  the  last  placed  with  ends 
resting  on  trestles. 

The  stove,  a  capacious,  oblong  furnace,  that 
devoured  wood  three  feet  long  and  one  foot 
through,  was  the  center  around  which  the  school 
congregated  in  the  winter,  and  against  which 
they  viciously  expectorated  tobacco-juice  in  the 
summer ;  for  the  school  never  closed  except  for 
Sunday. 

Professor  Heartbreaks  did  not  join  the  circle 
around  the  stove,  but  sat  on  his  stool  near  by, 
and  from  this  throne  ruled  the  assembly  like  a 
monarch,  starting  and  stopping  all  discussions, 
directing  the  current  of  all  conversation,  and 
dismissing  the  school  peremptorily  when  he  had 
a  call  to  mend  a  pump  or  to  put  in  a  new  one. 

The  pupils  came  from  all  parts  of  the  city, 
and  from  all  classes  of  society ;  so  that  what  did 
not  come  up  for  discussion  was  not  of  impor- 
tance enough  to  make  a  ripple  of  interest. 

No  man  passing  the  school  was  safe  from  an 
invitation  to  come  in.  If  he  complied  with  the 
request,  he  was  sure  to  find  a  silent  group  of 
whittlers — so  silent  and  so  busy  whittling  that, 
for  a  few  seconds,  hot  flashes  of  embarrassment 
would  redden  his  face,  though  every  one  present 
might  be  a  personal  acquaintance.  If  he  should 
decline  to  "  come  in,"  a  dozen  or  so  of  the 
"pupils"  would  tumble  out  of  the  door,  and, 


1 1 2  AN  ODD  FELLO  W. 

standing  on  the  sidewalk,  look  after  the  receding 
figure  so  pityingly  that  he  would  wish  he  had 
stopped — their  cruel  comments  ! 

Professor  Heartbreaks  usually  opened  the  in- 
terview by  a  question  indicating  the  topic  of  con- 
versation, and  then  there  would  follow  a  mnning 
fire  of  question  and  comment  that  would  dis- 
count the  best  effort  of  many  a  lawyer. 

It  happened  that  one  day  Rev.  Archibald 
Outwright  was  called  in  to  contribute  his  share 
to  the  general  fund  of  information. 

"  Much  sickness,  parson  ?" 

Thus  spoke  Professor  Heartbreaks,  glancing 
up  just  one  second  from  the  sugar-spoon  he  was 
fashioning  from  soft  pine. 

"  Not  a  great  deal,"  he  replied,  taking  the 
seat  offered  him  on  the  end  of  a  trestle  near  the 
stove. 

"No  funerals,  then?" 

"Yes.  I  attended  one  last  week.  A  Mrs. 
Tingleman  died  of  pulmonary  trouble." 

"  Any  children  ?" 

"  Yes ;  three  little  ones." 

"Father  living?" 

"You  know  Henry,  or  Hank,  Professor,"  said 
a  pupil,  interrupting,  "  the  night-watch  at  the 
lumber-yard  ?" 

"Yes;  that  him?" 

"Yep." 


THE  SELBCI  SCHOOL.  113 

"Lost  his  job,  I  heerd,"  said  another. 

"  Had  n't  heard  that,"  said  the  minister.  "He 
was  trusty,  was  he  not  ?" 

"Well,  he  'd  never  carry  off  a  meeting-house; 
now  you  can  put  your  bottom  dollar  on  that," 
another  whittler  volunteered. 

"Joe  Bigler  tol'  me  a'  yiste'day,  ur  te'-day — 
can't  jist  say  which — he  'd  adzwtist  his  goods 
at  awkshun,"  said  another. 

"He'd  better;  and  the  sooner  the  better,  if 
all  is  true  that 's  been  tol'  aroun'." 

"How's  that?"  asked  the  minister. 

M  You  've  heerd  of  Judge  Tracy's  house,  and 
Mr.  Lysander's  house,  and  a  whole  lot  more 
houses,  gettin'  broke  into,  hain't  yer?" 

"  Yes,  certainly ;  but  is  Mr.  Tingleman  impli- 
cated in  such  work  as  that?  I  knew  he  was 
poor,  but  I  thought  he  was  honest,"  the  minister 
said,  earnestly. 

"Do  you  think  it  will  snow  or  rain?"  asked 
Professor  Heartbreaks,  directing  his  question  to 
the  minister,  and  by  that  all  the  school  knew 
that  further  discussion  of  Tingleman's  character 
must  cease. 

The  minister  said  rather  coolly,  for  he  was 
thinking  of  Tingleman,  and  was  far  more  con- 
cerned about  him  and  his  children  than  about 
the  kind  of  weather  the  community  would  have, 
"Neither,  I  hope,"  and  was  about  to  ask  some- 


1 1 4  AN  ODD  FELL  O  W. 

thing  more  about  Tingleman,  when  the  professor 
suddenly  left  his  perch,  stepped  to  the  door,  and 
called  out: 

"  Hey,  Andy  Smoothiron  !  Hey,  Andy !  Come 
in  a  minute." 

Andy  was  passing  the  shop  on  the  other  side 
of  the  street ;  but  he  halted,  turned  about,  and 
came  across,  entering  the  shop  just  as  the  min- 
ister passed  out.  The  professor  the  meantime 
had  resumed  his  seat  on  the  high  stool. 

"Run  down  any  of  them  thieves  yet,  Andy?" 
said  the  professor,  as  the  big  policeman  backed 
up  to  the  stove,  and  crossed  his  hands  behind 
him  to  protect  his  overcoat-tail  from  the  heat  of 
the  stove. 

"  Hain't  'zactly  run  any  in ;  but  do  n't  you 
forget  hit,  we  're  hot  on  their  trail.  I  tracked 
one  on  'em  into  his  house,  just  the  other 
night." 

"Why  didn't  you  nab  him?"  said  one. 

"Well — "  and  the  big  policeman  hesitated. 

A  suppressed  laugh  ran  around  the  room. 

"Had  to  leave  him,  I  suppose,  for  the  chief 
to  capture,  and  get  another  feather  in  his  cap," 
suggested  another. 

"You  are  clear  off,"  said  Andy,  coloring. 
"Ef  any  of  you  fellers  'a'  knowed  who  it  wuz  I 
tracked,  you  'd  swear  you  'd  as  soon  suspect  an 
angel  from  heaven  as  him." 


THE  SELECT  SCHOOL.  115 

"An'  you  let  him  slip?"  queried  one,  in 
surprise. 

"No,  I  hain't  let  him  slip,  nuther."  He 
spoke  indignantly.  "I  can  put  my  hand  on  him 
any  day,  or  any  hour  in  the  day  or  night,  and 
I  '11  do  it,  when  we  git  everything  sot  just  so. 
You  fellers  do  n't  know  nothing !" 

"  I  '11  bet  you  a  dollar  to  two  cents  I  can 
name  your  man,"  said  another,  banteringly. 

"  I  '11  go  you  for  the  cigars,  but  won't  bet  no 
dollar,"  said  Andy,  turning  about  to  face  his 
challenger. 

"Thaddeus  Throckmorton,"  said  the  other, 
closing  his  knife  and  putting  it  in  his  pocket. 
Then,  shaking  his  completed  wooden  pistol  in 
Andy's  face,  he  said,  "And  if  you  police  hain't 
got  anything  better  'n  that,  you  'd  just  as  well 
be  at  home  asleep,  for  all  the  good  you  do 
a-watchin'  for  thieves." 

"When  are  you  going  to  get  new  uniforms?" 
said  the  professor. 

And  Andy  was  glad  for  a  chance  to  change 
the  subject;  for  a  murmur  of  approval  had 
greeted  the  outspoken  words  of  his  challenger. 
He  said,  however,  before  answering  the  professor: 

"  I  hain't  said  it 's  him ;"  and  then,  to  the 
professor,  "Not  until  spring,  I  guess." 

"  Hello,  Throcky !"  called  the  professor,  as 
Thaddeus  passed  the  door.  "Come  in." 


1 1 6  AN  ODD  FELLO  W. 

"Guess  I'll  go,"  said  Andy. 

"You'd  better,"  said  some  one,  and  the  two 
men  passed  each  other  in  the  doorway. 

"  How  are  you,  Andy  ?"  said  Thad,  kindly. 

"So's  to  be  around,"  said  Andy,  with  a  wink 
at  the  school;  but  they  did  not  respond  to 
the  hint. 

"How  are  your  children  getting  on?"  asked 
the  professor. 

"Very  well,  indeed." 

"That  was  a  sad  death  !" 

"  In  some  respects,  yes ;  but  in  others,  it  was 
a  very  blessed  death." 

"Did  he  take  it  hard?"  asked  the  professor, 
softly. 

"Very.  They  were  devotedly  attached  to 
each  other." 

"Where  is  he?" 

"  He  has  given  up  his  place,  and  will  go  West 
awhile.  We  will  see  to  the  children  until  he 
comes  for  them." 

"Get  married  again,  likely." 

"No,  I  think  not;  at  least,  not  soon.  I  be- 
lieve he  is  a  changed  man." 

"  Has  a  hard  name,  Throcky." 

"Yes,  I  know;  but  I  think  undeserved." 

"Then  you  do  not  believe  he  is  the  one  who 
breaks  into  houses  around  here?"  the  professor 
asked. 


THE  SELECT  SCHOOL.  llj 

"No  more  than  I  believe  /  would  do  such  a 

thing." 

The  school  smiled  at  each  other,  but  Thad- 
deus  did  not  notice  the  smile ;  for  he  was  look- 
ing straight  in  the  face  of  his  questioner. 

"But  if  he'd  get  caught,  you'd  believe  dif- 
f'rent?"  said  one. 

"I  would  have  to." 

"  And  then  it  might  look  bad  for  you,  seeing 
you  and  him  are  such  friends." 

Thaddeus  smiled,  and  then  laughed  heartily. 
The  school  smiled,  but  they  did  not  laugh.  They 
knew  what  seed  had  already  been  sown,  and 
reckoned  that  the  harvest  would  be  bitterness 
for  Thaddeus. 

"Why,  Professor,"  he  said,  after  his  laughter 
had  subsided,  "  I  was  born  in  Brambleville.  My 
father  lived  here  twenty  years.  My  mother  is 
here  yet.  Everybody  knows  me.  But,  then,  I 
know  you  are  just  guying  me,  for  fun.  I  am, 
though,  no  more  a  friend  of  Henry  Tingleman 
than  I  am  of  any  man  in  need.  His  wife  was 
sick  and  dying.  I  went  there  to  help.  His  chil- 
dren are  motherless,  and  the  last  request  his  wife 
made  was,  that  my  mother  would  look  after 
them.  If  he  had  been  a  convicted  thief,  and 
not  merely  a  '  suspect,'  I  could  not  have  done 
otherwise  for  her  and  the  children.  They  are 
not  to  be  blamed." 


1 18  AN  ODD  FELLO  W. 

"You  did  just  right,"  said  the  professor,  ear- 
nestly. "  But  he  is  a  '  suspect,'  and  he  may  get 
you  in  troublz." 

"He  never  will.  Who  could  be  so  low  as  to 
concoct  tales  to  my  hurt  from  what  I  have  done — 
very  little,  I  am  sure,  but  done  cheerfully — for  a 
needy  family  ?" 

"There  are  lots  of  low-down  folks  in  politics, 
Throcky,"  the  professor  said,  solemnly. 

"Throcky"  was  a  common  name  for  him 
among  his  friends,  and  it  had  no  unpleasant 
sound  to  him.  Only  when  it  was  used  by  his 
opponents,  with  a  twist  and  a  tone  that  was  very 
rasping,  did  it  grate  harshly  on  his  ear. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  admit  that  there  are." 

"  But  the  professor  and  the  school  are  for  you" 

"Thank  you!" 

"That's  correct,"  said  another. 

"  No  matter  what  the  police  say,"  put  in  an- 
other, significantly. 

"The  police?"  said  Thaddeus,  in  surprise. 
"  Not  about  me  ?" 

"That's  it,"  several  answered. 

"Andy — that  just  went  out?"  he  questioned, 
eagerly. 

"We  tell  no  tales  out  of  school,"  the  professor 
said,  with  a  smile. 

"But  am  I  to  understand  that  the  police  are 


THE  SELECT  SCHOOL,  119 

associating  my  name  with  Tingleman's — and — 
and — with  house-breaking?"  He  was  excited 
and  angry. 

"Throcky,"  the  professor  said,  kindly,  "do 
not  get  us  into  it,  will  you  ?" 

"Certainly  not — in  no  way,  shape,  or  form." 

"  Can  we  trust  you  ?" 

"  On  my  word  as  a  gentleman,  you  can." 

"Well,  then,  the  school  has  been  looking  into 
this  matter  all  along.  We  've  studied  it  pretty 
hard,  and  I  guess  we  Ve  'bout  learned  all  there  's 
in  it,  and  we  've  'eluded  they  have  sot  a  trap  for 
you  ;  and  they  say  they  have  caught  you." 

"  They  say  ?     Who  says  ?     Caught  me  ?" 

"Now,  you  are  excited,  Throcky.  We  axe  for 
you — the  whole  school,  to  a  man ;  but  you  must 
look  out,  and  play  an  even  hand,  or  they  '11 
down  you  I" 

"  They  '11  down  me  ?  Who  are  they  ?  The 
police  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  and  the  politicians." 

"  Police  and  politicians  ?" 

"Now  you  have  it!" 

"I  know  the  police;  but  who  are  the  poli- 
ticians ?" 

"Them  that  made  the  police.  You  know  who 
they  be,  do  n't  you  ?" 

"Yes,"  sadly. 


120  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"The  schools  for  you." 

"Thank  you!" 

"Grub-time !"  said  the  professor;  and  at  once 
all  closed  their  knives,  put  aside  their  whittling, 
and  went  out  to  their  homes. 


X. 

A  PLAUSIBLE  PLEA. 


MORRISON  found  great 
pleasure  in  contemplating  every  circum- 
stance that  was  calculated  to  reflect  upon  the 
character  of  Thaddeus,  or  to  injure  him  in  pub- 
lic estimation.  He  listened  eagerly  to  Andy 
Smoothiron's  recital  of  what  occurred  at  the 
"Select  School;"  but  the  wily  policeman  was 
careful  to  make  a  report  that  was  sure  to  please 
Wendell,  without  regard  to  the  truthfulness  of 
his  story.  What  was  truth  as  compared  with 
his  place  on  "the  force?"  What  was  truth 
compared  with  the  friendship  of  so  popular  and 
so  influential  a  man  as  Wendell  ? 

"Gad!"  exclaimed  the  policeman,  as  he  en- 
tered Wendell's  office,  and  found  him  alone  ;  "  it 
is  gittin'  all-fired  duberous  and  nasty  for  Throcky. 
Ef  I  wuz  talked  'bout  like  him,  I  'd  go  West, 
an'  grow  up.  Jeeminy  cracky  1  he  hain't  got  no 
show  here,  whiles  the  best  men  is  talkin'  'gin 
him  like  they  are  now." 

"What's  up  now?"  Wendell  said,  wheeling 
about  in  his  chair,  and  motioning  Andy  to  a  seat 
near  him. 

The  two  men  supposed  they  were  alone  ;  but 

121 


122  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

Judge  Tracy  was  in  the  private-office,  and  heard 
all  their  conversation ;  for  he  had  not  gone  to 
dinner,  as  Wendell  thought  he  had. 

"Well,  Perfess'  Heartbreaks  called  me  inter 
the  school,  and,  Moly  Hoses !  how  they  did  go 
forThrocky!" 

"  Did  they?"  asked  Wendell,  gleefully.  "  What 
did  they  say?  Who  was  there ?" 

"You  know  Mort  Humphrey?' 

"Yes  ;  did  he  say  anything?" 

Wendell  was  genuinely  surprised  at  that  in- 
timation; and  more,  he  was  really  pained  for  a 
second ;  for,  to  even  a  man  like  Wendell,  it 
seemed  sorrowful  that  so  true  a  friend  as  Mort 
should  desert  Thaddeus.  He  leaned  forward  to 
catch  every  word  Andy  had  to  tell.  The  big 
policeman  glanced  cautiously  about,  and  then 
said,  in  a  low  tone : 

"  Say  anything  ?  Jeeminy  cracky !  he  come 
right  out,  and  said  he  knowed  Throcky  was  a 
thief!" 

"Mort  Humphrey  said  that?"  asked  Wendell, 
still  in  doubt,  the  assertion  seemed  so  far  from 
what  he  would  expect.  In  his  own  heart  he  be- 
lieved in  Throckmorton's  honesty,  and  knew  he 
was  simply  a  victim  of  circumstances ;  and  it 
was  hard  for  him  to  believe  Mort  Humphrey 
would  even  suspect  his  friend  of  wrong-doing, 
much  less  charge  him  with  theft 


4  PLAUSIBLE  PLEA.  123 

"Well,  now,  maybe  you  think  I^m  a  liar!" 
said  Andy,  drawing  back,  and  assuming  an  in- 
dignant air. 

"Certainly  not — by  no  means,"  said  Wendell, 
apologetically;  "but  you  might  have  misunder- 
stood him." 

"Misunderstood  nothing!  I  tell  you  he  sayed 
it,  in  just  them  words." 

"Tell  me  all  the  conversation,"  said  Wendell, 
turning  to  his  desk,  and  picking  up  a  pencil  to 
write  down  the  words. 

"  No  you  do  n't !"  said  Andy,  divining  his 
purpose.  "  I  ain't  goin'  to  make  no  deppersi- 
tion  to  the  exact  words." 

"Very  well,"  said  Wendell,  dropping  his  pen- 
cil, and  turning  back  to  face  Andy ;  "  tell  me  as 
nearly  as  you  can  recollect." 

"You  won't  haul  me  up  for  a  witness?" 

"  Of  course  not,  you  fool !"  said  Wendell,  im- 
patiently. "This  will  never  get  into  court;  and 
if  it  did,  hearsay  evidence  is  nothing." 

"Well,"  Andy  commenced,  being  reassured, 
"I  sez,  sez  I,  they  've  got  them  thieves  cornered. 
Then  they  sez,  sez  they,  '  What  thieves  ?' ' 

"Who  said?"  asked  Wendell. 

"  Somebody ;  I  do  n't  know  who,  now. 

"I  thought  you  said  Mort  said  that?" 

"Not  that.     I  'm  comin'  to  what  Mort  sayed." 

"O!     Well,  goon." 


124  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"They  sez,  sez  they,  'What  thieves?'  Then 
I  sez,  sez  I,  *  What  broke  into  Tracy's,  and  Ly- 
sander's,  and  the  balance  of  them's  houses.' 
Then  up  spoke  Mort,  and  sez,  sez  he,  'Chestnuts!' 
Then  I  fired  up,  and  sez,  sez  I,  '  What 's  chest- 
nuts ?'  And  he  sez,  sez  he,  *  About  them  thieves.' 
Then  I  sez,  sez  I — pretty  hot,  I  tell  you ;  for  he 
was  tryin'  to  guy  me — sez  I  to  him,  'What  do 
you  know  about  it?'  And  he  sez,  sez  he,  'You 
police  are  clear  off.'  Them  air  his  very  words. 
Then  I  sez,  '  May  be  you  know  ?'  And  he  sez, 
sez  he,  *  I  do  know.  It 's  Thaddeus  Throck- 
morton.'  Right  out,  like  that,  before  the  whole 
school.  I  wuz  just  fixin'  my  mouth  to  ask  him 
for  some  pointers,  when  who  on  earth  should 
pop  in  but  Throcky  himself!  And  /left." 

"What  did  the  others  say?"  asked  Wendell, 
quietly,  for  he  was  oppressed  by  the  news  Andy 
brought  him.  He  was  willing  to  smirch  Throck- 
morton's  name  in  private,  and  at  such  times  and 
places  as  he  thought  it  wise  and  advantageous 
to  do  so,  but  he  did  not  want  such  a  report  to 
get  to  the  great  public  ear ;  for  he  was  editor  of 
the  chief  paper  of  the  party  in  that  locality,  and 
he  did  not  want  him  hurt  like  that. 

"They  sayed  nuthin',  but  looked  most  awful 
wise." 

"  Did  n't  any  one  defend  him  ?" 

"Not  a' one.' 


A  PLAUSIBLE  PLEA.  125 

"But  you  do  n't  believe  he  was  in  the  scrape, 
do  you  ?" 

"  Ton  my  soul,  it  looks  bad.  At  fust  I  'd 
'a'  swore  him  innercent;  but  now,  seein'  the 
word  comes  from  so  many  directions,  they  must 
be  somethin'  in  it.  Can't  have  no  smoke  with- 
out fire  ;  and  a  smothered  fire  at  that." 

"  And  you  think  all  the  school  sided  with 
Mort?" 

"  I  know  it.  He  wuz  speakin'  for  the  whole 
pile  of  them.  They  just  as  good  as  said  so." 

"  Why  did  n't  you  stay  and  see  how  Thaddeus 
would  act,  and  what  they  would  say  to  him?" 

"  Well,  I  wuz  in  a  hurry  to  git  back  to  the 
square." 

"  Did  he  speak  to  you  ?" 

"  Never  noticed  me  no  more  than  if  I  'd  been 
a  dog." 

"Why's  that,  I  wonder?" 

"  Do  n't  he  know  I  've  tracked  him  all  over 
this  town  ?  Do  n't  he  know  I  Ve  seed  him  at 
most  suspicious  hours,  goin'  home,  and  so  has 
Billy." 

"Where  is  Tingleman  now?" 

"  Do  n't  know  where  he  mout  be  this  blessed 
minute ;  but  I  '11  tell  you  where  I  tracked  him  last 
night,  just  after  dark." 

"  Where  ?" 

"  To  Throcky's  house  !" 


126  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  Did  he  go  in  ?" 

"  Go  in  !  You  bet.  I  watched  a  hour,  an'  he 
wuz  still  thar." 

"  What  time  do  you  go  on  duty  ?" 

"  Go  on  at  six  in  the  morning,  and  off  at  six 
at  night.  Then  Billy  comes  on,  and  stays  until 
morning." 

"Did  you  tell  Billy?" 

"  No.  I  was  going  home,  and  hain't  seed  him 
sence." 

"  Well,"  said  Wendell,  rising  and  shutting  his 
desk,  preparatory  to  leaving  for  dinner,  "  keep 
your  eyes  open,  Andy,  and  your  ears  too,  and 
let  me  know  what 's  new." 

Judge  Tracy  remained  in  his  office.  Had  he 
indeed  so  long  been  deceived  with  reference  to 
Thaddeus  and  Wendell?  He  had  always  thought 
Thaddeus  the  more  estimable  of  the  two,  reckon- 
ing him  honest,  energetic,  talented,  and  deserv- 
ing the  best  place  in  society,  and  destined  to 
achieve  distinction  in  political  life.  He  had 
rated  Wendell  as  brilliant,  but  unreliable ;  lac  k- 
ing  persistence,  and  destined  to  wane  in  influence 
as  he  developed  indiscretions  into  excesses.  He 
had  helped  Thaddeus  gladly,  for  his  own  sake, 
and  had  encouraged  him  in  his  attentions  to 
Josie.  He  had  taken  Wendell  into  partnership 
from  selfish  motives,  having  several  cases  on 
hand  that  needed  the  brilliant  and  dashing,  even 


A  PLAUSIBLE  PLEA.  127 

vehement,  advocacy  that  he  knew  Wendell  would 
give  them  in  open  court,  while  he  would  look  up 
the  vital  points,  and  manage  the  cases  in  every 
other  respect.  So  far  his  most  sanguine  expecta- 
tions had  been  exceeded  by  Wendell's  achieve- 
ments. There  was  more  in  the  young  man  than 
he  believed.  He  had  carefully  guarded  Josie 
from  association  with  him,  and  could  not  tolerate 
the  idea  of  her  choosing  him  as  a  friend.  Per- 
haps he  was  wrong  in  his  estimate  of  him  in 
every  particular.  That  is  what  puzzled  him,  and 
that  is  why  he  was  still  in  the  private  office  when 
Wendell  returned  from  dinner. 

"  Wendell,"  said  the  judge,  coming  out  as  the 
young  lawyer  seated  himself  to  finish  his  writing, 
"  what  you  told  me  the  other  day  about  Throck- 
morton  and  the  police  gossip  has  annoyed  me 
exceedingly.  You  do  not  credit  the  report,  do 
you?" 

"  Certainly  not,  sir,"  Wendell  answered 
promptly  and  earnestly. 

"  Do  you  know  whether  the  police  have  any 
substantial  ground  for  such  suspicions?" 

"I  am  quite  sure  they  have  not;  that  is,  noth- 
ing that  would  stand  the  test  of  a  review  in 
court;  but — "  And  here  Wendell  stopped.  He 
wanted  to  tell  the  judge  just  what  he  knew,  and 
wanted  to  show  him  the  handkerchief  and  the 
check,  and  leave  him  to  make  his  own  infer- 


128  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

ences.  But  was  this  the  best  time  for  that?  So 
he  hesitated,  and  the  judge  said: 

"  But  what?" 

"Only  this,  Judge:  the  police  have  some 
circumstantial  evidence  that  looks  ugly  lor 
Throckmorton ;  but  his  unblemished  character 
will  outweigh  that  in  your  mind,  as  it  does  in 
mine." 

"Perhaps;  but  I  would  like  to  do  the  weigh- 
ing myself." 

"  Most  certainly." 

"Will  you  put  me  in  possession  of  the  evi- 
dence, that  I  may  see  for  myself  what  there  is 
in  it?" 

Wendell  blushed  and  hesitated,  finally  re- 
marking in  a  deprecatory  manner: 

"I  can;  but  it  would  savor  a  little  of  tale- 
bearing." 

Instantly  the  judge  applied  the  words  to  him- 
self, and  understood  them  to  be  a  reproof  to 
him  for  prying  into  a  matter  of  that  kind.  Wen- 
dell Morrison  rebuking  Judge  Tracy?  He 
flushed  visibly,  and  was  greatly  agitated  as  he 
stood  looking  out  the  window. 

Wendell  correctly  interpreted  these  signs  as 
evidence  of  offended  dignity,  and  he  made  haste 
to  repair  the  damage  his  inconsiderate  speech 
had  wrought. 

"I  beg  pardon,  Judge.     You  are  justly  en- 


A  PLAUSIBLE  PLEA.  129 

titled  to  all  the  information  I  have;  and  since 
you  have  asked  it,  I  should  not  have  hinted  at 
such  a  construction  of  my  telling  you  what  I 
know;  for  your  relations,  in  a  business  way, 
with  Throckmorton  are  such  as  to  justify  the 
closest  scrutiny  of  his  every  act  by  you." 

Wendell  was  pleased  with  the  turn  the  con- 
versation had  taken ;  for  he  could  now  unbosom 
himself  to  the  judge  as  a  friend  and  confidant, 
and  not  as  the  bearer  of  an  evil  report.  If  he 
pressed  him,  he  would  tell  all. 

"Well?"  said  the  judge,  seating  himself  with 
his  overcoat  and  hat  on. 

"Haven't  you  been  to  dinner?"  Wendell 
asked,  when  he  noted  this  movement. 

"Not  yet." 

"  Well,  I  will  be  brief.     In  the  first  place — " 

At  that  instant  the  door  opened,  and  Miss 
Josie  stepped  in  hurriedly. 

"Why,  papa,  we  were  so  anxious  about  you. 
We  thought  something  awful  must  have  hap- 
pened. John  said  he  saw  you  at  the  office  win- 
dow just  at  dinner-time,  and  we  have  waited 
two  hours,  and  you  are  not  home  yet.  Nothing 
would  do  but  I  should  come  myself  and  see 
what  is  the  matter.  I  am  glad  there  is  noth- 
ing serious.  Another  important  case,  I  sup- 
pose," nodding  to  Mr.  Morrison,  as  she  con- 
cluded her  rapid  speech,  and  then  glancing 
9 


130  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

from  one  to  the  other  for  an  answer  to  her  sug- 
gestion. 

"  Yes,"  the  judge  said,  taking  his  daughter's 
arm  and  moving  toward  the  door,  "  a  very  per- 
plexing case,  I  assure  you."  And  then  to  Mor- 
rison he  said,  as  he  stood  in  the  door  a  moment, 
"Think  up  all  the  points,  and  let  me  know 
about  them  when  I  come  back." 

"Very  well,  sir,"  Wendell  said,  and  was 
alone  again. 

"  I  have  greatly  misjudged  that  young  man," 
Judge  Tracy  said,  as  he  drove  home  in  the 
sleigh  with  his  daughter.  "He  has  depth  and 
breadth  I  never  dreamed  of,  and  for  acute  and 
swift  analysis  he  is  remarkable." 

"  If  he  was  not  so  fast  in  other  ways,  and  of 
such  an  undesirable  reputation  outside  of  his 
business  life,"  she  said,  with  a  doubtful  shaking 
of  her  head. 

"But  he  may  have  been  misjudged  in  that 
as  in  his  legal  attainments  and  abilities." 

"Hardly!  Everybody  knows — How  do — 
do! — that  he  is  the  sorrow  of  his  mother's  life." 

"Who  was  that?"  the  judge  asked,  looking 
back  to  see  to  whom  Josie  had  spoken  so  cor- 
dially. 

"That  was  Thad.  He  hardly  recognized  me 
at  all.  I  don't  believe  he  saw  me  until  I 
spoke." 


A  PLAUSIBLE  PLEA.  131 

"Saw  you,  perhaps,  but  did  not  want  you  to 
see  him." 

"Why  so?"  she  asked,  blushing. 

"O,  he  is  in  deep  water,  I  hear." 

"In  what  way?" 

"O,"  said  the  judge,  hesitatingly  and  eva- 
sively, "some  legal  matters." 

"O!"  said  Josie,  relieved  at  once.  "He  can 
take  care  of  himself  in  all  legal  matters,  I  am 
sure.  He  is  going  to  make  a  first-class  lawyer, 
isn't  he,  papa,  don't  you  think?" 

"Hard  to  tell.  Yes,  I  guess  so;  that  is,  he 
is  a  hard  student,  and  is  a  close  thinker.  Can 
never  be  a  match  lor  Morrison,  though.  He 
does  very  well  as  a  newspaper  plodder." 

"  I  should  n't  want  him  to  match  Wendell  in 
some  things." 

"  By  the  way,  Josie,  do  not  let  matters  reach 
a  crisis  between  you  and  Throckmorton  until 
you  talk  to  me." 

"Why,  Papa  Tracy!  Can  you  not  trust 
mamma  and  me  together  on  such  matters?" 

"Some  things  your  mother  needs  the  counsel 
of  men  of  the  world  on,  Josie." 

"You  are  just  teasing  me.     I  know  you." 

"I  am  in  dead  earnest,  Josie." 

"See  mamma!" 

With  this  she  bounded  up  the  steps  and  to 
her  room,  gayly  singing,  her  heart  made  light 


132  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

by  the  thought  that  her  father  had  even 
jokingly  alluded  to  a  possible  alliance  between 
herself  and  Thaddeus.  Reach  a  crisis !  Indeed, 
that  had  been  reached  and  passed!  He  was 
her  accepted  lover,  though  the  iormal  engage- 
ment had  been  made  but  very  recently,  and  her 
mother  did  not  know  of  that. 


XI. 

CONSIDERING  THE  EVIDENCE. 

"TT  is  madness,  Morrison,"  Judge  Tracy  said, 
-|-  when  he  returned  from  dinner,  and  the  two 
lawyers  were  in  their  private  office,  "to  suppose 
that  Thaddeus  Throckmorton  is  privy  to  such 
nefarious  business  as  housebreaking.  Unless  the 
evidence  you  have  to  submit  is  clear  and  con- 
vincing, I  will  at  once  take  steps  to  relieve  him 
of  the  suspicions  you  have  mentioned." 

What  had  wrought  the  change  in  the  judge's 
mind?  Thaddeus's  name  had  not  been  men- 
tioned since  he  left  his  daughter  at  the  foot  of 
the  stairs. 

It  was  Throckmorton's  record  foi  faithfulness, 
fearlessness,  for  rectitude  and  righteousness,  that 
had  pleaded  so  effectually  with  the  great  lawyer. 

"That  is  true,  Judge.  At  any  rate,  we  are 
bound  to  believe  every  man  innocent  until  he  is 
proved  to  be  guilty,"  Morrison  said,  heartily. 

"Well,  begin  at  the  beginning,  and  give  me 
the  facts  just  as  they  have  come  to  your 
knowledge." 

"In  the  same  order?"  Morrison  asked,  sur- 
prised at  the  request,  for  he  had  jotted  down  the 
facts  in  the  order  of  their  force,  intending  to 

133 


134  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

make  the  evidence  cumulative,  and  was  hardly 
ready  to  give  them  to  the  judge  one  by  one  in 
the  order  of  their  occurrence.  But  he  dared  not 
disregard  the  request,  so  he  said: 

"  You  know  the  night  we  caught  the  burglar 
in  your  house?" 

"You  mean  the  night  we  didn't  catch  him." 

"Yes,"  laughing.  "The  night  we  tried  to 
catch  him." 

"Yes;  what  of  that?" 

'.'You  remember  the  fellow  wore  a  handker- 
chief as  a  mask?" 

"  Yes,  and  I  remember  that  you  snatched  it  off 
his  face." 

"Well,  here  is  that  handkerchief  1"  handing  it 
to  the  judge  for  examination. 

The  judge  took  it,  and  scrutinized  its  texture. 

"Look  at  the  corners  for  a  name,"  Morrison 
said,  carelessly. 

"Yes;  here  is  a  name,"  looking  at  it  carefully 
through  his  glasses,  " '  Thaddeus  Throckmorton.' 
That  is  plain  enough." 

The  judge  put  the  handkerchief  aside  on  his 
desk. 

"Let  me  take  the  handkerchief,"  Morrison 
said,  reaching  out  for  it. 

"  After  a  while.     I  may  want  it." 

"  O,  excuse  me !  But  I  would  like  to  have  it 
when  you  are  done  with  it.  I — of  course,  it  is 


CONSIDERING  THE  EVIDENCE.  135 

nothing;  but  I  thought  I  would  keep  it  as  a 
trophy  of  that  night's  adventure." 

"  I  see.  Does  Thaddeus  know  you  have  this 
handkerchief?" 

"Yes;  well,  that  is,  I  suppose  he  does.  He 
ought  to." 

"Did  you  tell  him?" 

"  No ;  but  then  he  knows  all  about  the  affair ; 
had  a  full  account  of  it  in  the  Banner,  and  men- 
tioned the  handkerchief  as  in  my  possession." 

"I  see.     Well,  what  next?" 

"You  remember  Mr.  Lysander's  fright,  and 
how  he  thought  he  had  a  burglar  there,  in  his 
house?" 

"Yes;  and  found  out  it  was  only  an  effigy  of 
his  own  clothes." 

"Well,  the  police  have  a  different  theory. 
They  think  some  one  was  really  in  the  house." 

"So  I  have  heard;  but  that  has  nothing  to 
do  with  this  case." 

"I  hope  not.  Well,  that  night  Thaddeus  was 
seen  at  Tingleman's." 

"Very  well;  then  what?" 

"The  next  day,  or  a  little  while  after,  this 
check  turned  up  in  Tingleman's  hands." 

Morrison  handed  the  judge  the  check  Thad- 
deus had  given  Mrs.  Tingleman  to  buy  Christ- 
mas presents  for  her  children. 

"  I  see.     How  did  you  get  it?" 


13*  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"Billy  Barnwell  brought  it  to  me  to  cash." 

"And  where  did  he  get  it?" 

"Of  Tingleman." 

"Who  is  Tingleman?" 

"A  suspicious  character  about  town." 

"  Did  you  present  this  check  at  the  bank  for 
the  currency?" 

"No.  I  haven't  needed  the  money,  and  so 
just  kept  it." 

"Do  you  need  the  money  now?" 

"No." 

"I  will  keep  the  check.  Here  is  a  ten-dollar 
bill." 

Before  Morrison  could  protest,  the  judge  had 
pocketed  the  check,  and  had  put  a  ten-dollar 
bill  in  his  hand. 

"What  other  facts  have  you?" 

"Tingleman  has  been  seen  at  Throckmorton's 
house." 

"Yes;  go  on." 

"And  Thad  has  been  seen  at  Tingleman's 
house  at  all  hours  in  the  night." 

"Yes ;  go  on." 

"The  police  say  it  is  common  street-talk  that 
his  connection  with  Tingleman  is  suspicious." 

"What  is  Tingleman?     What  does  he  do?" 

"A  night-watchman  at  the  lumber-yard." 

"What  evidence  have  you  that  he  is  a  bad 
character?" 


CONSIDERING  THE  EVIDENCE.  137 

"Only  his  record." 

"And  what  is  that?" 

"A  thief  that  has  served  a  term  in  the  pen- 
itentiary." 

"You  know  that?" 

"Yes." 

"Then  you  depend  on  his  record  for  an  esti- 
mate of  his  character?" 

"Principally;  but  it  is  known  also  that  he  is 
profligate,  generally." 

"Now,  Morrison,  you  are  too  good  a  lawyer 
not  to  know  that  such  evidence  as  you  give 
here  would  not  convict  a  man  in  any  court  in 
the  nation." 

"I  know  that,  Judge." 

"This  handkerchief  was  found  on  the  face  ot 
a  burglar;  but  you  do  not  pretend  to  say  the 
burglar  was  Throckmorton  ?" 

"Certainly  not;  but  it  shows  a  connection  be- 
tween the  burglar  and  the  owner  of  the  handker- 
chief. Whether  remote  or  intimate  remains  to 
be  seen." 

"Nonsense,  Morrison.  It  shows  no  such 
thing.  Suppose  this  burglar  had  stolen  my 
watch  that  night.  Suppose  he  then  went  to 
your  house,  and  when  you  grappled  with  him  he 
dropped  my  watch,  and  you  picked  it  up.  Would 
you  argue  from  that  that  I,  in  any  sense,  was  re- 
sponsible for  his  acts?  Could  my  watch  in  his 


138  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

possession  connect  me  suspiciously  with  his 
operations?" 

"Certainly  not,  when  it  should  be  generally 
known  that  your  house  had  been  burglarized ;  for 
that  would  explain  the  presence  of  your  watch 
with  the  burglar.  But  has  Throckmorton's  house 
been  burglarized?  If  so,  that  will  explain  the 
handkerchief." 

"Not  that  I  know  of;  but  at  most  this  is  but 
a  circumstance." 

"  Very  true.     That  is  all  I  claim  for  it." 

"Very  well;  admit  that.  But  how  can  you 
connect  Throckmorton  with  the  affair  at  Ly- 
sander's  house?  for  I  see  that  is  the  intent  of 
what  you  say." 

"Just  this  way:  Let  it  be  admitted  that  Tin- 
gleman  was  the  burglar  at  your  house,  and  let  it 
be  supposed  that  he  was  the  burglar  at  Lysan- 
der's ;  then  it  follows  that  the  handkerchief  and 
the  check  are  links  in  the  same  chain  that  con- 
nects Throckmorton  with  Tingleman's  opera- 
tions." 

"But  was  Tingleman  the  burglar  at  my 
house?" 

"That  is  to  be  proven." 

"Where  is  Tingleman  now?" 

"Gone  West!" 

"  The  judge  was  silent  and  thoughtful. 

"Where?     Do  you  know?" 


CONSIDERING  THE  EVIDENCE.  139 

"No;  only  that  he  bought  a  ticket  to  St. 
;  or  rather  a  ticket  was  bought  for  him." 

"Who  bought  it?" 

"Throckmorton." 

"You  know  that?" 

"  I  know  it  on  the  strength  of  the  ticket 
agent's  word.  He  told  it  to  me  innocently,  as 
showing  how  benevolent  Throckmorton  is.  He 
is  a  firm  friend  of  Thad's,  you  know." 

"Yes,  I  know." 

"  Now,  Judge,  all  this  looks  bad  for  Thad.  It 
makes  people  talk.  Such  facts  do  not  convince 
me,  nor  even  arouse  my  suspicions;  for  I  believe 
Throckmorton  is  all  right,  and  could  explain  the 
whole  matter." 

"Why  not  go  to  him  for  an  explanation?" 

"  Ah,  there 's  the  rub !  To  go  to  him  for  an 
explanation  is  to  charge  him  with  guilt.  I  do 
not  want  that  task.  Do  you?" 

"No;  I  do  not" 

"  It  is  assuming  that  he  is  guilty,  you  see,  and 
asking  him  to  prove  his  innocence,  instead  of  as- 
suming he  is  innocent,  and  waiting  for  some  one 
to  prove  his  guilt !" 

"  I  see ;  but  why  do  you  keep  his  handker- 
chief, and  why  did  you  not  cash  this  check  at 
the  bank?" 

"Are  they  not  safer  in  my  hands?  Might  not 
some  unscrupulous  person  get  hold  of  them,  and 


140  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

the  facts  connected  with  them,  and  use  them  to 
Thad's  hurt?  All  this  smoke  will  blow  over,  by 
and  by,  and  I  am  keeping  these  things  quiet." 

"I  see.  Well,  then,  you  would  like  to  keep 
them  for  Thad's  sake?" 

"Yes." 

"Well,  I  will  return  them  after  a  little.  The 
meantime  I  will  not  use  them  improperly." 

"O,  of  course  not." 

And  so  the  interview  ended. 

Judge  Tracy  was  glad  he  had  discovered,  so 
opportunely  and  so  early,  the  exposure  that 
threatened  Thaddeus. 

Wendell  Morrison  was  glad  he  had  so  suc- 
cessfully sown  seed  of  distrust  in  the  mind  and 
heart  of  Judge  Tracy,  and  at  the  same  time  had 
made  it  appear  that  he  was  sacredly  guarding 
the  character  of  Throckmorton.  He  was  quite 
certain  Judge  Tracy  had  been  very  favorably  im- 
pressed with  his  disinterestedness. 


XII. 

A  FLOOD  OF  LIGHT. 

IT  was  vain  for  Thaddeus  to  attempt  to  content 
himself  in  the  office  that  afternoon.  What 
he  heard  at  Professor  Heartbreaks's  school  dis- 
turbed him  more  than  he  cared  to  own. 

If,  as  he  had  been  warned,  there  was  a  scheme 
a-brewing  to  ruin  him,  it  could  certainly  be 
traced  to  Morrison;  for  no  other  person  in 
Brambleville  could  have  a  sufficient  motive  to 
work  against  him. 

Suppose  Morrison  should  poison  Judge  Tracy's 
mind  against  him!  Suppose  the  judge  should 
forbid  his  visiting  Josie  ! 

The  more  he  pondered  the  possibilities  in  the 
case,  the  stronger  grew  his  desire  to  tell  Josie 
himself  what  his  enemies  were  doing.  Seizing 
his  hat,  he  rushed  out  of  the  office,  and  hurried 
toward  the  judge's  residence,  fearing  all  the  way 
that  he  might  miss  finding  Josie  at  home. 

"Is  Miss  Josie  at  home?"  he  asked  the  maid 
who  opened  the  door. 

"I  will  see.  Walk  into  the  parlor,  please," 
said  the  maid,  and  turned  to  go  up-stairs. 

"  Miss  Josie  is  at  home,  and  will  be  down  in 

141 


142  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

just  one  minute,"  called  a  familiar  voice  from 
above  stairs. 

"She  is  at  home,  and  will  be  down  in  a 
minute,"  said  the  maid,  turning  about  and  hand- 
ing Thad  his  card,  smiling  very  slightly,  as  if  she 
understood  more  than  she  would  have  him  know. 

"I  am  so  glad  to  see  you,"  Miss  Josie  said, 
in  less  than  a  minute,  as  she  came  into  the 
parlor.  "Papa  said  you  were  in  trouble." 

She  sat  down  right  near  him,  and  continued : 
"Can  you  trust  me  with  your  trouble?  I  should 
so  much  like  to  share  it  with  you!" 

"Your  father  said  I  was  in  trouble?"  ex- 
claimed Thaddeus,  in  surprise. 

"Yes.  As  we  drove  home  at  noon  he  re- 
marked that  you  were  in  trouble  about  some  law 
matter." 

"I  do  not  understand,"  he  answered,  with 
strange  forebodings. 

"But  are  you  not?  If  you  are  not,  excuse 
me  for  saying  anything  about  it.  But  what  he 
said  has  made  me  want  to  see  you  so  much,  and 
I  am  glad  you  came  up." 

"  Josie,  I  am  troubled;  but  I  am  not  in  trouble 
that  I  know  of.  But  I  am  distressed  to  think 
your  father  should  have  mentioned  it  to  you. 
Did  he  tell  you  anything?" 

"  Nothing  at  all.  Do  not  let  that  worry  you. 
Excuse  my  indiscretion  in  mentioning  it" 


"Why,  what  has  happened  now?"  she  asked,  in  sobered 
earnestness,— Page  144. 


A  FLOOD  OF  LIGHT.  143 

"I  will  tell,  Josie.  Morrison  is  doing  all  he 
can  to  injure  me.  He  is  your  father's  partner, 
and  a  friend  of  the  family,  and  my  friend's  son; 
and  perhaps  I  ought  not  to  say  so,  but  I  am 
sure  he  is.  I  am  not  afraid  of  anything  he  can 
do  against  me  in  a  business  way,  or  in  politics; 
but  I  am  afraid  of  what  he  may  do  here — in 
your  home — against  me  !" 

"Why,  what  has  happened  now?"  she  asked, 
in  sobered  earnestness. 

"  Nothing  happened,  Josie ;  but  very  much 
talked  about." 

Then  he  told  her  all  he  knew  of  the  rumors 
and  suspicions  afloat.  When  he  had  finished 
the  recital,  she  looked  up  and  said: 

"Is  that  all?" 

"All!     Josie,  is  that  not  enough?" 

"  Enough  as  to  quantity — indeed,  too  much 
as  to  quality.  But,  Thad,  could  you  fear  such  a 
mass  of  silly  gossip  would  influence  me,  or  any 
of  us?" 

"  But,  Josie,  it  has  influenced  your  father." 

"Thad  Throckmorton!  How  dare  you!  And 
in  his  own  house,  too!" 

"But  did  you  not  say  he  said  I  was  in  trouble? 
And  he  must  have  referred  to  this ;  for  this  is 
all  that  troubles  me !" 

"Well,"  said  Josie,  "he  may  have  referred  to 
this ;  but  it  did  not  make  a  sufficient  impression 


144  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

on  his  mind  to  disturb  the  usual  flow  of  good 
humor  at  dinner.  Now  I  will  tell  you  what  he 
did  say  about  you,  just  after  we  passed  you, 
coming  home." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear." 

"  He  warned  me  not  to  let  a  crisis  arise  in  our 
affairs — yours  and  mine ;  think  of  it — without 
consulting  him!  That  is  just  as  good  as  ap- 
proval, you  know." 

But  it  did  not  appear  so  to  Thad.  It  seemed 
more  like  a  prophesied  refusal.  His  heart  sank 
within  him,  and  he  said,  sadly: 

"I  am  afraid  not!" 

"Yes,  it  is.  Does  not  mamma  know?  And 
is  she  not  satisfied?" 

"Does  your  mother  know  all — our  engage- 
ment— and  everything?" 

"Not  exactly  that;  but  she  knows  what  I 
think  of  you — that  is,  pretty  nearly  knows — and 
I  know  what  she  thinks  of  you,  and  you  may  just 
rest  easy." 

"Well,  you  comfort  me,  to  say  the  least.  In 
fact,  after  telling  you  all  about  it,  I  am  almost  per- 
suaded myself  that  I  am  worse  scared  than  hurt." 

"  Indeed  you  are  !  You  ought  to  hear  Uncle 
Lycurgus  praise  you.  He  looks  upon  you  as  his 
deliverer." 

"Though  I  only  rescued  him  from  his  own 
clothes !" 


A  FLOOD  OF  LIGHT.  145 

"For  the  time,  though,  it  was  a  real  burglar; 
and  he  acknowledges — privately,  of  course — that 
he  was  paralyzed  with  fear." 

"It  was  too  funny !" 

"  His  wife  is  your  eulogist,  too ;  for,  as  you 
say,  Uncle  Lycurgus  has  been  '  rescued  from  his 
clothes,'  and  aunt  is  correspondingly  happy." 

"How's  that?" 

"Well,  he  has  never  had  those  garments  on 
since  that  night,  and  has  given  orders  to  have 
them  handed  over  to  the  first  tramp,  or  the  first 
rag-man,  that  comes  along.  He  can  not  endure 
the  thought  of  them.  He  has  hired  a  hostler 
to  care  for  his  cow  and  horses,  and  all  is  lovely 
there." 

"But,  Josie,"  said  Thaddeus,  rising  to  go, 
"tell  your  mother  all — right  away,  please.  I  do 
not  want  her  to— to — be  unprepared  to— to — say 
a  good  word  for  me,  if  your  father  should  hap- 
pen to  be  influenced  by  Morrison's  gossip." 

"  You  silly  boy  1" 

"Please!" 

"Why  not  you?" 

"I  will,  of  course,  in  due  time,  and  with  be- 
coming formality ;  but  you  pave  the  way." 

"And  papa,  too?" 

"Yes — no — yes.     I  do  n't  care.     No!" 

That  night,  when  Judge  Tracy  came  home, 
his  wife  had  something  to  tell  him,  and  he  had 

10 


146  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

something  to  tell  her.     She  sought  him  in  his 
study  after  tea. 

"Well,  my  dear,  Thaddeus  Throckmorton  was 
here  this  afternoon." 

"  Aha !     Rather  frequent  caller,  is  n't  he  ?" 
"  Rather ;    and  is  likely  to  be  more  frequent" 
"How's  that?"  quickly,  and  with  a  startled 
expression. 

"  He  has  offered  himself  to  Josie." 
"And  she  is  waiting  our  approval?" 
"Yes—  and  no.     She  has  accepted  him." 
"Mrs.  Tracy!" 

"Are  you  surprised?  I  am  not;  nor  dis- 
pleased. 1  have  expected  as  much.  You  surely 
could  see  how  matters  were  drifting." 

"But  let  me  tell  you,  my  dear.     Some  things 
have  come  to  my  ears  to-day  that  I  did  not  know 
before.     If  true,  the   matter  between  him  and 
Josie  must  end  here  and  now." 
"Judge  Tracy!" 
"It  is  startling  and  terrible." 
"Do  tell  me!     I  seem  like  one  in  a  dream." 
"  Here  are  the  facts.     See  what  you  can  make 
of  them.     I  have   my  own  -theory.     I  will  see 
what  is  yours." 

Then  Judge  Tracy  went  over  all  of  Morri- 
son's story,  exhibiting  the  handkerchief  and  the 
check,  and  repeating  Morrison's  arguments  and 
reasons  for  retaining  the  articles.  When  he  was 


A  FLOOD  OF  LIGHT.  147 

done,  his  wife,  having  listened  with  bated  breath 
and  kindling  spirit  to  the  recital,  said,  very  de- 
liberately and  with  great  feeling : 

"That  all  proves  one  thing,  at  least." 

"Well?" 

"That  Morrison  is  a  designing  and  crafty 
young  man." 

"Looks  so,"  said  the  judge,  relieved  to  find 
his  wife's  opinion  coinciding  with  his  own. 

"Fortunately,  the  handkerchief  proves  an- 
other— or,  at  least,  arouses  a  strong  supposition." 

"And  that  is?" 

"That  Tingleman  was  the  thief  in  our  house 
that  night." 

"How  so?" 

"Well,  it  was  his  family  that  Josie  and  I  went 
to  see,  at  Mr.  Outwright's  request.  It  was  for 
them  that  the  ladies  did  so  much.  You  remem- 
ber my  telling  about  it?" 

"You  tell  me  so  many  things  of  that  kind, 
my  dear,  that  I  really  can  not  remember  them 
all.  No,  I  do  not  recall  this  particular  case." 

"Very  well.  We  were  there  repeatedly.  We 
found,  on  our  first  visit,  that  Thaddeus  had  been 
there  before  us." 

"Thad?" 

"Yes,  Thad.  Now  be  still,  and  let  me  tell 
you.  Thaddeus  had  been  there,  and  the  old 
lady,  who  had  charge  of  the  family,  was  loud  in 


148  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

protestation  of  admiration  of  him.  She  pro- 
duced this  very  handkerchief,  or  one  just  like 
it — I  saw  the  name  then — and  told  me  how 
Thad  had  with  it  wiped  Mrs.  Tingleman's  face 
and  mouth,  and  then,  of  course,  left  it.  He 
could  do  nothing  else  ;  but  she  thought  his  leav- 
ing so  fine  a  handkerchief  a  wonderfully  gen- 
erous act.  She  made  much  of  it,  and  that  is 
why  I  happen  to  know  about  it.  So,  you  see, 
it  points  to  Tingleman,  but  not  to  Thad." 

"  I  see  1"  said  the  judge,  with  a  broad  smile. 
"But  the  check?" 

"The  check?  I^et  me  ask  you,  my  dear,  if 
you  gave  any  poor  family  a  ten-dollar  Christmas 
surprise  ?" 

"Not  that  I  can  now  recall." 

"Very  well;  but  that  is  just  what  Thaddeus 
Throckmorton  did  for  the  Tingleman  family. 
That  I  know.  I  helped  buy  the  articles  myself, 
and  was  given  ten  dollars  to  spend.  I  did  not 
put  this  amount  all  into  toys  for  children,  you 
may  be  sure.  I  thought  it  a  bit  of  extravagance 
for  Thaddeus,  and  inquired  why  he  did  it  From 
what  I  could  learn,  it  was  out  of  pure  benev- 
olence." 

"I  see!  But  about  his  being  there  at  all 
hours  in  the  night?" 

"Watching  beside  Mrs.  Tingleman.  He  was 
her  only  consoler  in  her  last  hours." 


A  FLOOD  OF  LIGHT.  149 

"Noble  fellow!"  said  the  judge,  impulsively. 

"  Indeed  lie  is ;  but  I  am  afraid  he  lacks  care- 
fulness in  assuming  responsibility.1' 

"How  so?" 

"Well,  he  has  taken  Tingleman's  children 
home  to  his  mother's,  and  is  caring  for  them  as 
if  they  were  his  brothers." 

"Do  you   suppose   he  knows  what  suspicions 
attach  to  Tingleman  ?" 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  if  he  did,  that  would  not 
deter  him  from  lending  a  helping  hand." 

"So!  so!  Instead  of  being  a  companion  of 
thieves,  he  has  been  a  quiet  and  noble  worker 
among  the  poor?" 

"Nothing  less;  and,  as  often  as  he  has  been 
here,  he  has  not  mentioned  the  matter  one  way 
or  the  other.  Nor  have  we — Josie  or  I ;  but  I 
think  I  will  now." 

"But  about  your  brother's  case?" 

"Pure  hallucination — nothing  more;  noth- 
ing less." 

"So  I  think." 

"Now,  what  is  your  opinion?  You  said  you 
had  one." 

"That  Thad  is  being  made  the  victim  of  cir- 
cumstances. What  you  tell  me  confirms  me  in 
that  opinion." 

"You  will  see  that  Morrison  is  set  right  in 
the  matter?" 


1 50  AN  ODD  FELLO  W. 

"I  certainly  will." 

"Now,  as  to  Josie  and  Thaddeus ?" 

"They  have  my  blessing!" 

"You  know  Thad  is  ambitious  to  excel 
in  law?" 

"  Certainly ;  but  I  really  believe  his  field  is 
that  of  journalism — perhaps  literary  work.  Still, 
if  his  tastes  are  decidedly  for  the  law,  perhaps 
that  is  best." 

"  There  would  be  no  chance  for  him  in  your 
office,  would  there  ?" 

"Not  while  Morrison  is  there.  I  am  sure 
there  would  be  friction." 

"  Is  the  arrangement  with  Morrison  for  a 
definite  period?" 

"  For  five  years,  unless  mutually  dissolved 
sooner." 

"  My  dear,  can  you  not  make  it  to  his  inter- 
est to  dissolve?" 

"  Not  yet.     He  is  a  useful  man  in  his  line." 

"And  a  dangerous  man,  my  dear." 

"  In  what  way?" 

"  He  will  sacrifice  his  best  friends  to  his  own 
ambition.  I  can  read  him  like  a  book." 

"  May  I  come  in  ?" 

"  Certainly,"  said  the  judge,  rising  to  greet 
Josie,  who  had  knocked  timidly  at  the  door  of 
the  study. 

"  Take  my  blessing,  daughter  1" 


A  FLOOD  OF  LIGHT.  151 

He  embraced  her  fondly,  and  kissed  her  fore- 
head reverently. 

"  Has  mamma  told  you  ?" 

"  Indeed  she  has — much  that  I  never  knew 
before." 

"  Well,  I  have  something  awful  to  tell  you 
both,"  with  a  well-assumed  anxious  air,  "  and 
then,  may  be,  you  will  withdraw  your  blessing." 

Then  Josie  related,  with  very  great  partic- 
ularity, what  Thaddeus  had  told  her  that  after- 
noon, her  father  and  mother  listening,  with  af- 
fected surprise  and  dismay,  until  the  end  was 
reached. 

"And  still  you  have  faith  in  him?"  the  judge 
said,  with  a  frown. 

"  Yes,  papa ;  why  not  ?  What  can  idle  tales 
avail  against  a  good  name  ?" 

"That  is  true,  daughter.  'A  good  name  is 
rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches.'  Fortu- 
nately, your  mother  and  I  can  clear  all  that  in  a 
few  words." 

Then  the  matter  was  gon,-  over  again  from 
beginning  to  end. 

Until  a  late  hour  they  talked,  and  the  judge 
related  many  reminiscences  of  his  acquaintance 
with  Thaddeus's  father,  always  ending  with  the 
remark : 

"And  the  son  is  growing  up  to  be  just 
like  him." 


152  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  Poor  man !"  Mrs.  Tracy  finally  remarked, 
with  a  heavy  sigh,  "  his  end  was  very  tragic  and 
sad.  I  do  not  see  how  his  wife  lived  through  it  1 
I  could  not." 

"  Please,  mamma,  do  not  mention  it,"  Josie 
said,  pleadingly.  "  I  am  afraid  I  will  dream 
about  it  all  night." 

"  I  beg  pardon,  daughter !  I  will  say  no 
more." 

"  When  Thad  comes,  to-morrow  night, 
mamma,  may  I  bring  him  to  your  room,  and 
will  you  tell  him  how  sure  you  are  that  he  is 
good  and  true  and  noble  ?" 

"  With  pleasure,  daughter." 


XIII. 

PLOTTING  MISCHIEF. 

TT^ENDELL  MORRISON  sat  in  his  office- 
V  *  chair  one  night,  with  his  feet  elevated 
against  the  window-casing,  almost  hidden  in  the 
cloud  of  tobacco-smoke  his  persistent  and  rapid 
pulling  at  a  fragrant  cigar  had  made,  when  Billy 
Barn  well,  the  chief  of  police,  entered  uncere- 
moniously. 

"  Got  a  mate  to  that  ?"  he  said,  as  he  drew  a 
chair  alongside  of  the  young  lawyer,  and  ele- 
vated his  feet  against  the  other  side  of  the  same 
window.  The  gas  was  burning  brightly,  and 
the  prospect  of  a  free  smoke  of  the  very  best 
cigar  that  money  could  buy,  had  attracted  the 
chief  from  the  street  below. 

Without  replying,  and  without  shifting  his 
position,  Morrison  took  a  cigar  from  his  vest- 
pocket,  and  handed  it  to  Billy,  and  gave  him  his 
own  cigar  as  a  light. 

"  Thanks  !  Regular  twenty-five-centers  1" 
Billy  said,  after  a  puff  or  two  at  the  fragrant 
weed. 

Morrison  puffed  away,  without  deigning  a.  re- 
ply, and  Billy,  for  awhile,  silently  smoked  on 


154  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  Dullest  day  for  a  month !"  exclaimed  the 
policeman. 

If  Morrison  heard  the  remark,  he  did  not 
deem  it  worthy  of  notice ;  and  the  two  con- 
tinued to  make  the  thick  smoke  thicker  about 
their  heads. 

"  Came  pretty  near  running  in  two  tramps, 
but  they  got  out  of  the  city  before  I  heard  they 
were  here." 

Morrison  evidently  was  not  interested  in  the 
arresting  of  tramps. 

"  Charlie  Christie  has  put  in  a  new  line  of 
cigars  that  beat  anything  ever  offered  here  for 
the  money.  Regular  twenty-five-centers,  Ha- 
vana-filled, gilt-edge,  A  No.  i— only  three  for  a 
half.  Dandies  1" 

But  Morrison  was  satisfied  with  the  cigars  he 
had,  and  did  not  so  much  as  look  toward  Billy, 
much  less  make  any  inquiry  about  the  new  brand 
of  cigars.  And  they  smoked  on. 

"  Well,  guess  I  must  go  now.  -Andy  will  be 
coming  up  to  look  for  me." 

Had  he  been  talking  to  himself,  Billy  could 
not  have  had  less  said  to  him  than  was  said  that 
night  by  Morrison.  He  was  smoking  when  he 
came  in,  and  he  was  smoking  when  he  went  out. 
Such  fits  of  sullen  silence  were  common  with 
Morrison,  and  Billy  had  learned  to  wait  his 
mood. 


PLOT7ING  MISCHIEF.  155 

Just  after  Billy  went  out,  a  heavy  step,  with 
a  quick  stride,  was  heard  in  the  hall.  The  door 
was  flung  open,  and  Sam  Slimkins  entered. 

"Where  there  is  so  much  smoke  must  be 
some  fire.  What  great  scheme  are  you  planning 
now  ?" 

"Trying  to  get  myself  together.  I  am  all 
broke  up,  Sam." 

Morrison  straightened  up  in  his  chair,  and 
wheeled  it  about  so  as  to  face  Slimkins. 

"What  has  gone  wrong?" 

"Everything.     You  know  the  check?' 

"  Yes." 

"Well,  Judge  Tracy  got  hold  of  it,  and  it 
turns  out  that  Mrs.  Tracy  knows  all  about  how 
Tingleman  happened  to  have  it,  and  that  ends 


"Well,  I  never  thought  it  was  very  much  of 
a  string,  anyway." 

"  But  it  was,  I  tell  you.  It  was  a  trump  card. 
You  remember  the  handkerchief?" 

"Yes." 

"That  is  gone,  too.  Mrs.  Tracy  found  out 
how  Tingleman  got  it,  and  is  full  of  praises  for 
Throcky  on  account  of  it." 

"All  child's  play,  anyway,  Morrison!  I  tell 
you,  if  you  mean  business,  get  up  and  go  at 
Throcky  in  a  business  way.  This  'still  hunt' 
way  is  nonsense." 


156  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"That's  all  you  know  about  it!" 

"  I  know  all  about  itl  Where  would  you  be 
to-day  but  for  me  ?" 

"Where  would  you  be  but  for  me?"  Morrison 
said,  angrily. 

"  What  have  you  ever  done  for  me  that  you 
had  not  been  paid  for  in  advance?"  Slimkins 
retorted. 

"What  have  you  ever  done  for  me  that  you 
did  n't  demand  dollars  for?" 

"Who  cornered  the  floaters  for  you  at  the 
last  election,  and  sent  you  to  the  Legislature?" 

"Who  gave  you  ten  dollars  a  head  for  every 
one  you  said  you  voted  for  me,  when  they  cost  no 
more  than  two  dollars  apiece  on  the  average?" 

"Well,  it  was  your  bargain!" 

"And  your  gain!" 

"  Your  gain !  You  could  n't  afford  to  be 
beaten  for  a  few  thousand  dollars." 

"Well,  let  that  drop.     You  are  excited." 

"I  should  say,  let  it  drop.  Who  is  excited? 
You;  that 's  all.  What  has  got  into  you  ?  You 
are  as  cross  as  a  bear  that  has  lost  a  whelp." 

"  I  told  you  I  was  all  broken  up." 

"Over  that  little  check,  and  the  silly  hand- 
1rerchief  business." 

"Let  up,  will  you?" 

."Be  a  man,  and  I  will." 

"What  would  you  have  me  do?' 


PLOTTING  MISCHIEF.  157 

"Declare  wax  on  Throcky!  War  to  the  knife, 
and  knife  to  the  hilt!" 

"I  dare  not.  He  is  too  strong.  I  must 
weaken  him  somewhere.  He  is  all  conscience. 
If  I  could  get  a  knife  in  his  honor  somewhere,  he 
would  go  to  his  knees  at  once." 

"That 's  it !  Come  out  in  direct  assault  Let 
fly  an  arrow.  You  will  not  have  to  prove  any- 
thing. He  will  have  to  explain.  Of  course,  the 
falser  it  is,  the  less  likely  he  will  be  to  notice  it ; 
but  the  people  will  remember  it.  Get  Monmos- 
kin  to  let  you  squib  his  paper  for  him.  Then 
give  it  to  Throcky.  See?" 

"O  yes;  I  see.  Very  nice  for  you  to  talk. 
The  law  can  not  touch  you,  even  if  he  should 
charge  libel  against  you.  With  me  it  is  different. 
He  could  collect  from  me  any  damages  the  court 
might  allow.  You  know  that.  It  is  easy  enough 
for  you  to  talk  that  way." 

"Very  well,  have  it  so.  Then  pay  me,  and  / 
will  make  it  hot  for  him.  I  will  make  him  think 
he  is  in  purgatory  every  hour  in  the  day.  He  is 
as  easily  hurt  as  a  child." 

"What  would  you  do?" 

"For  pay?     How  much?" 

"  Let  me  know  your  plan  first.  I  will  not  fix 
a  price  on  work  undone  and  unknown." 

"Where  does  he  stand  in  your  way?  Let 
me  know  just  what  you  are  aiming  at?" 


1 58  AN  ODD  FELL O  W. 

"At  the  State  Senate,  and  then  Congress. 
Next  fall  to  the  Senate,  and  four  years  after- 
ward to  Congress.  I  do  not  care  anything  for 
the  Senate  except  as  a  stone  to  step  on  to 
Congress." 

"  But  does  he  want  to  go  to  the  Senate  ?" 

"Of  course,  and,  more  than  that,  half  the 
party  want  him  there.  I  can  go  back  to  the 
Lower  House;  but  that  is  no  promoter.  I  am 
tired  of  it,  anyway." 

"  Why  not  let  him  go  to  the  Lower  House,  and 
you  to  the  Senate?" 

"Fool!" 

"You  are  another!" 

"  I  say  you  are  !  Only  two  counties  in  the 
district,  and  take  both  senator  and  represent- 
ative from  the  same  county!  I  say  you  are  a 
fool!" 

"  Go  to  the  dogs  with  your  ambition — Senate, 
Congress,  and  all !" 

Sam  arose,  and  stalked  out  of  the  office.  Mor- 
rison smoked  on.  He  knew  Sam  would  come 
back.  There  was  a  chance  to  make  money  out 
of  the  scheme,  and  that  would  bring  him.  Sam 
went  as  far  as  the  head  of  the  stair,  and  then 
returned.  Resuming  his  seat,  he  said,  as  if  noth- 
ing had  happened. 

"  I  will  make  him  so  sick  of  politics  that  he 
will  wish  he  had  not  been  bornl" 


PLOTTING  MISCHIEF.  159 

"How?" 

"  Through  the  Gazette.  Old  Monmoskin  will 
print  anything  for  money." 

"Well,  go  ahead,  and  I  will  see  what  you 
can  do." 

"  For  how  much  ?" 

"Well," — thoughtfully — "$300,  if  nominated; 
$500  more,  if  elected  !" 

"  Go  away !  Send  for  your  Cheap  Johns.  No 
such  bait  catches  me !" 

"  Well,  make  it  even  money,  if  elected." 

"  A  thousand?" 

"Yes." 

"  Good-night.  Look  out  for  the  next  Ga- 
zette!" 

That  week  the  Gazette  office  needed,  for  im- 
mediate use,  more  type  of  a  certain  kind  than 
was  in  stock.  Mr.  Monmoskin  deliberated 
awhile  as  to  what  he  could  do  in  the  emergency, 
and  finally  adopted  the  suggestion  of  his  fore- 
man, who  said: 

"  Why  not  ask  the  Banner  for  a  font  ?  We 
might  return  the  favor  some  time.  Thad  would 
let  you  have  it." 

"  O  yes ;  Thad  would  let  me  have  it.  That 's 
his  way.  But  it  is  humiliating  to  ask  him." 

"  If  you  do  n't,  you  lose  the  job  and  twenty 
dollars  clear  cash.  Is  your  pride  worth  twenty 
dollars  a  day  to  you?" 


160  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

* 

"  Well,  send  over  and  see." 

"  Reynolds,"  said  the  foreman,  "  go  over  to 
the  Banner  office,  and  borrow  a  font  of  long 
primer.  Tell  Thaddeus  we  will  return  the  favor 
on  demand." 

"Certainly!  Certainly!  Glad  to  let  them 
have  it,"  said  the  young  editor,  when  Reynolds 
made  known  his  errand.  "  See  !  You  can  not 
carry  both  cases.  I  will  send  one  of  the  boys 
with  you  to  carry  the  caps." 

"What  is  to  happen  now,  do  you  reckon?" 
asked  Thad's  foreman,  as  the  type  was  carried 
out  of  the  office. 

"  Peace,  I  hope.  I  am  tired  of  this  bitterness, 
and  all  this  bickering.  I  suppose  the  Gazette 
will  notice  the  Banner  now.  It  never  has  done 
it,  you  know." 

That  week  the  Gazette  did  notice  the  Ban- 
ner— or  rather  the  Banner  editor.  The  general 
public  did  not  understand  the  item;  but  Thad 
did,  and  so  did  Wendell — and  Sam  Slimkins — 
and  the  police — and,  through  them,  many  others 
of  the  baser  sort. 

When  Thad  read  the  item  he  could  scarcely 
believe  his  eyes ;  but  there  were  the  words  in 
plain  type,  and  the  implication  they  conveyed 
was  a  dagger  in  his  heart. 


XIY. 

BUILDING  ON  THE  SAND. 


was  well  pleased  with  Slim- 
kins's  first  movement  against  Throck- 
morton  through  the  Gazette.  It  was  a  covert 
attack  that  the  victim  could  not  meet  without 
drawing  upon  himself  a  storm  of  evil  surmisings. 
There  was  nothing  left  to  him  but  silent  endur- 
ance of  a  cruel  aspersion  of  his  character.  There 
was  the  barest  margin  of  fact  in  the  charge  made 
against  him  by  the  Gazette  item,  and  any  one 
acquainted  with  the  facts  would  exonerate 
Throckmorton  ;  but  the  facts  could  not  be  given 
to  the  public  without  implicating  innocent  per- 
sons. Thaddeus  writhed  in  agony.  He  could 
not  even  go  to  his  mother  for  sympathy  ;  and  as 
for  telling  Josie  —  that  was  not  to  be  thought  of 
for  a  minute. 

Wendell  left  Slimkins  to  his  work,  and  gave 
his  attention  to  other  plans.  He  had  been  made 
partner  with  Judge  Tracy.  What  should  hinder 
a  marriage  with  Judge  Tracy's  daughter?  In 
time,  if  that  could  be  consummated,  the  fortunes 
of  the  two  families  would  be  one,  and  all  of  it  in 
his  hands  !  Bright  visions  of  wealth  and  power  I 

II  161 


1 62  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

The  only  obstacle  in  the  way  was  Miss  Josie 
herself. 

If  he  could  gain  her  heart,  or  even  her  hand 
without  her  heart — for  "  hearts  are  plentiful,"  he 
said — parental  consent  would  follow  as  a  matter 
of  course ;  for  could  Judge  Tracy  deny  his  own 
partner  so  reasonable  a  request? 

Sam  Slimkins  could  be  trusted  to  carry  on  a 
vigorous  warfare  against  Thaddeus  as  Wendell's 
political  rival ;  but  he  would  turn  his  whole  at- 
tention to  winning  the  hand  of  Miss  Josie.  He 
did  not  consider  Thad  a  rival  there.  How  could 
he  be  ?  Absurd  ! 

Wendell  had  had  but  little  to  do  with  the 
society  with  which  Thaddeus  and  Josie  mingled, 
and  where  they  were  chief  actors  and  ever  wel- 
come guests.  For  this  reason  he  did  not  know 
or  suspect  the  close  friendship  of  the  two  which 
had  culminated  in  the  engagement  sanctioned 
heartily  by  the  judge  and  his  wife. 

Wendell  was  not  ignorant  of  the  art  of  mak- 
ing friends,  nor  unacquainted  with  methods 
necessary  to  ingratiate  one's  self  in  the  affections 
of  another. 

"I  will  do  it  this  very  night!"  he  said,  closing 
his  desk  with  a  slam,  locking  it  with  a  snap, 
and  shoving  back  his  chair  with  a  force  alto- 
gether uncommon.  "Happy  thought!"  he  ex- 
claimed, half  aloud,  as  he  passed  out  of  the 


BUILDING  ON  THE  SAND.  163 

office  to  hurry  home  for  supper.  "The  boys 
will  find  a  cold  reception  this  night,"  he  added, 
with  a  chuckle,  as  he  went  down  the  stairs  two 
steps  at  a  time. 

Mrs.  Morrison's  heart  leaped  with  joy  when 
Wendell  announced  his  intention  at  the  close  of 
supper.  He  rarely  confided  to  her  any  of  his 
plans,  and  never  left  any  word  when  he  went 
from  home  as  to  where  he  was  going,  or  at 
what  hour  he  should  return,  or  whether  he 
should  return  at  all. 

"Mother,"  he  said,  smiling  blandly,  "I  think 
I  will  call  on  Jennie  Jessup  to-night.  I  have  n't 
been  there  for  many  a  month.  Do  you  think 
they  will  be  surprised  to  see  me?" 

"Surprised!  I  should  say  so;  and  delighted 
as  well.  I  am  so  glad  you  are  going.  Your  Aunt 
Mary  was  here  this  week,  and  asked  after  you 
very  particularly.  Do  let  her  think  you  come  to 
see  her,  too." 

"Aunt  Mary  is  all  right,"  said  Wendell,  re- 
calling the  many  happy  hours  he  had  spent 
there  in  his  boyhood  days.  "And  Jennie  is  a 
real  bright,  entertaining,  even  lovable  girl.  I 
have  quite  neglected  her  for  a  few  years." 

"So  you  have,  Wendell,"  his  mother  said, 
thrilled  by  the  thought  of  Wendell's  deliberately 
and  voluntarily  choosing  to  call  on  his  cousin  to 
spend  the  evening,  instead  of  passing  the  night 


1 64  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

with  the  rough  characters  generally  chosen  as 
his  companions.  "And  Jennie  feels  it,  too.  She 
does  not  lack  for  company;  but  she  has  always 
been  proud  of  you,  and  you  may  well  be  proud 
of  her." 

"Well,  I  am  going  to  reform,  mother,"  Wen- 
dell replied,  rising  to  go  to  his  room. 

An  hour  later  he  was  at  his  Aunt  Mary's. 
Jennie  was  ready  to  go  to  a  temperance-meet- 
ing at  the  hall,  and  her  mother  was  to  accom- 
pany her. 

"Come  right  in,  cousin.  We  will  not  go  a 
step,"  she  said,  decidedly,  when  Wendell  ex- 
cused himself,  seeing  they  were  attired  for  the 
street. 

"Suppose  you  go,  and  let  Wendell  go  with 
you,  and  I  will  stay,"  her  mother  suggested. 
"You  know  you  have  a  song  on  the  program, 
and  it  is  too  bad  to  disappoint  them." 

"Are  you  to  sing,  Cousin  Jennie?  Then,  of 
course,  I  will  go.  Have  n't  heard  you  for  years 
and  years.  It  will  make  me  a  boy  again,"  he 
said,  gayly. 

"Years  and  years?  The  idea,  Wendell!  I 
am  not  so  old  as  that !  Do  I  look  so  aged  ?" 

"Judged  by  your  looks,  cousin,  you  are  not  a 
day  over  sixteen — or  eighteen,  at  the  most.  You 
look  fresh  as  a  peach,  and  just  as  temptingly 
lovely." 


BUILDING  ON  THE  SAND.  165 

"Now,  you  are  ridiculing  me  1" 

"Indeed,  I  am  not.  Never  was  more  in 
earnest." 

"Well,  come  on.  We  will  be  late,  I  am 
afraid." 

"  Whew !  What  will  people  say  to  see  me 
at  a  temperance-meeting?"  he  said,  with  a  shrug 
of  the  shoulders. 

"  They  will  be  glad ;  but  none  gladder  than 
I,  Wendell,"  his  aunt  said,  earnestly. 

"  I  am  not  so  awful  bad,  Aunt  Mary.  I  do 
take  a  glass,  now  and  then ;  but  it  is  only  to  be 
sociable  with  the  boys.  I  could  quit  just  as 
easy  as  not." 

"Come  on,"  said  Jennie,  nervously;    for  she 
feared  her  mother  might  say  something,  in  her  a 
anxiety  for  Wendell's  reformation,  that  would 
drive  him  away  from  his  present  favorable  atti- 
tude, and  together  they  hastened  to  the  hall. 

His  coming  to  the  meeting  surprised  none 
more  delightfully  than  Thaddeus  and  Josie ;  for 
Thad  was  chairman,  and  Miss  Josie  was  secre- 
tary, of  the  society,  under  the  auspices  of  which 
the  assembly  was  held. 

At  the  close  of  the  exercises,  while  Wendell 
waited  for  Jennie,  who  was  detained  in  confer- 
ence with  some  other  members,  Miss  Josie  went 
to  him,  extended  her  hand,  and  said  warmly : 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you   here,  Mr.  Morrison. 


1 66  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

We  feel  quite  honored  when  our  lawmakers  and 
our  lawyers  attend  our  conventions." 

"  Indeed,"  he  replied,  with  a  profound  bow, 
"  any  man  may  well  esteem  it  a  privilege  to  be 
counted  as  a  friend  to  such  people  as  constitute 
this  society.  Whether  one  indorses  its  principles 
or  not,  there  is  no  denying  the  honorable  mo- 
tives and  pure  philanthropy  that  actuate  the 
members." 

"  Could  you  not  say  as  much  as  that  from  the 
platform  at  our  next  regular  meeting,  a  month 
from  now,  Mr.  Morrison?" 

"  I  shall  be  only  too  happy  to  respond  to  such 
an  invitation,  Miss  Tracy.  Remember,  I  do  not 
indorse  your  principles;  but  I  do  indorse  the 
members  of  the  society.  How  could  I  do  other- 
wise when  Miss  Tracy  and  Miss  Jessup,"  turn- 
ing to  his  cousin,  who  had  just  joined  them, 
"  are  their  representatives?" 

"  Thanks !"  said  Miss  Josie,  turning  to  give 
her  secretary's  record  to  Thaddeus,  who  advanced 
at  that  moment  to  her  side. 

Wendell  did  not  deign  to  notice  the  young 
editor,  making  a  pretense  of  assisting  Miss  Jes- 
sup with  her  roll  of  music  and  a  bundle  of  docu- 
ments she  was  to  carry  home,  so  as  to  cover  from 
all  eyesbutThad's  this  small  but  significant  slight. 

"  Did  he  speak  to  you  ?"  Josie  asked,  as  they 
passed  out  of  the  halL 


BUILDING  ON  THE  SAND.  167 

"  No,"  said  Thad  indifferently,  though  he  felt 
keenly  the  disrespect  shown  him. 

"  I  suppose  he  was  embarrassed  by  his  un- 
usual surroundings,  and  did  not  see  you,"  said 
Josie,  apologetically. 

"  Perhaps,"  assented  Thaddeus,  making  an 
effort  to  appear  unconcerned. 

Thaddeus  doubted  not  that  Wendell  was  con- 
nected in  some  way  with  the  publication  of  the 
item  in  the  Gazette^  and  construed  his  discour- 
tesy, at  this  time,  as  a  part  of  an  attempt  to  dis- 
honor him  in  small  but  effectual  ways.  He  felt 
correspondingly  depressed. 

Miss  Josie  was  sure  the  efforts  of  their  society 
were  being  attended  with  good  results,  or,  other- 
wise, Wendell  Morrison  would  not  have  been 
there.  She  was  eager  to  get  home  to  tell  her 
mother  the  good  news.  Together  they  rejoiced, 
and  wondered  why  Thaddeus  was  not  as  exult- 
ant as  they. 

"  If  all  our  labor  for  two  years  past  accom- 
plishes nothing  more  than  the  reforming  of 
Wendell  Morrison,  I  shall  be  amply  repaid,"  Miss 
Josie  said,  with  animation,  and  then  asked, 
"  Don't  you  think  so,  Thad?" 

"  Indeed  that  would  be  a  great  work,"  he 
said,  smiling. 

There  was  corresponding  joy  at  Mrs.  Jessup's 
home.  Wendell  had  praised  the  program  in 


1 68  AN  ODD  FELLO  W. 

unstinted  terms,  and  especially  the  part  Jennie 
had  taken. 

"Wendell  is  to  speak  next  time,"  Jennie 
said,  when  talking  the  matter  over  with  her 
mother.  "  Think  of  that !  A  year  ago  he  conld 
not  be  induced  even  to  attend  the  meetings. 
Now,  he  is  to  be  one  of  our  speakers." 

Wendell  was  delighted  with  the  outcome  of 
that  night's  work.  He  started  to  enlist  his 
cousin  Jennie's  sympathy  and  help,  intending 
thereby  to  pave  his  way  into  Josie's  favor ;  but 
at  one  leap  he  found  himself  firmly  planted  on 
the  very  ground  he  expected  to  reach  only  after 
tedious  and  difficult  approaches. 


XY. 

A  PLEASANT  PRISON. 

¥R.  CHARLES  CHRISTIE  loved  fast 
horses,  and  found  great  pleasure  in  riding 
behind  them ;  but  his  indulgence  in  such  enjoy- 
ment had  always  been  at  the  expense  and  whim 
of  his  many  friends  who  drove  swift  roadsters. 

He  finally  concluded  to  own  a  rapid  traveler 
himself,  and  at  once  purchased  the  finest  turn- 
out he  could  buy  in  Brambleville,  and  set  about 
finding  a  horse  to  match  his  buggy  and  his  idea 
of  what  a  man  of  his  position  should  own. 

"  I  want  something — ha !  ha ! — that  wiH — 0 1 
ah  I — pass  everything — ha !  ha ! — on  the  road.  I 
do  n't  often  drive — ha !  ha ! — but  when  I  do,  I 
want  to  go — hal  ha!"  he  said,  confidentially 
and  enthusiastically,  to  Simon  Hunter,  when 
consulting  him, 

"  Let  me  dell  you,  Choles,"  said  Simon,  look- 
ing wise,  "  id  is  more  imbordend  to  koom  bawk 
than  to  go,  Ged  a  horse  dat  will  bring  you 
bawk." 

"  I  see — ah  1  O I — I  see,  Simon !  You— ha ! 
ha ! — are  alluding  to  runaways — ha !  ha !  Well, 
now,  Simon — ah  !  O ! — I  calculate  that  I  can 

169 


170  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

ride — ha!  ha! — as  fast  as  any  horse  can  go. 
Ha!  ha!" 

**  But,  Charlie,"  said  Captain  Thompson,  who 
had  just  stepped  into  Simon's  store,  "a  few 
broken  ribs,  do  n't  you  know,  is  pretty  big  price 
to  pay,  do  n't  you  know,  for  a  ride  behind  a  two- 
forty  horse,  do  n't  you  know  ?  Slow,  but  sure, 
don't  you  know,  is  good  motto  for  pleasure- 
riding,  don't  you  know?" 

But  Charlie  was  not  to  be  frightened  out  of 
his  purpose  to  have  a  horse  that  would  pass 
everything  on  the  road. 

He  found  what  he  wanted.  He  bought  it  of 
a  traveling  band  of  Gypsies !  The  next  after- 
noon he  had  the  horse  brought  out  for  a  trial 
drive.  The  buggy  was  just  from  the  shop,  and 
glistened  in  paint  and  varnish.  The  harness 
was  new,  and  silver-tipped.  The  whip  was  new. 
The  driving-cap,  the  driving-gloves,  and  the 
driver — Charlie  himself — were  all  new. 

Captain  Thompson  and  Simon  Hunter  were 
present  to  see  Charlie  of^  but  both  declined  an 
invitation  to  ride  with  him. 

"  There  is  one  thing,  do  n't  you  know,  Charlie, 
that  you  need  to  make  your  turnout  complete, 
do  n't  you  know,  and  you  had  better  get  it  right 
away,  do  n't  you  know,  before  the  new  wears 
off,  don't  you  know?" 

"Ah!  O!    what's   that?     Ha!  ha  I"  tucking 


A  PLEASANT  PRISON.  171 

the  robes  under  his  legs,  and  picking  up  the 
lines. 

"A  wife,  Charlie." 

"  Ah !  O !  Well— ha !  ha  I— may  be  the  turn- 
out will  help  to  get  her.  Ha !  ha !" 

The  next  instant,  at  the  word,  the  horse  was 
off  in  a  rapid  trot  When  he  turned  the  corner 
of  the  first  block,  his  pace  quickened  to  a  run, 
and  Charlie's  friends  hurried  to  the  corner  to 
see  what  was  to  be  the  result.  They  were  in 
time  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  bnggy-top  as  it 
disappeared  down  the  street,  and  saw  men  stand- 
ing on  boxes  and  climbing  into  wagons  to  watch 
the  flight  of  Charlie's  fast  horse. 

He  passed  everything  on  the  road  for  two 
miles,  and  tried  to  pass  a  walnut-tree  that  stood 
where  two  roads  crossed,  but  failed,  and  left 
Charlie  and  the  buggy  in  a  heap,  both  badly 
damaged. 

Three  broken  ribs,  a  sprained  arm,  a  scalp- 
wound,  and  innumerable  bruises,  were  Charles 
Christie's  list  of  hurts,  to  which  ought  to  be  added 
shattered  confidence  and  crushed  hopes  ;  for  the 
two  last  named  were  the  most  serious  of  all. 

Simon  Hunter  called  to  see  his  friend  as 
soon  as  he  heard  he  was  at  home  undergoing 
surgical  treatment,  arriving  just  as  the  doctor 
was  departing. 

"  Bretty  bad  hurt,  Charlie,  eh  ?" 


172  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"Seems  so,  Simon,"  feebly,  and  with  many 
a  groan. 

"  You  haf  blenty  dime  now  to  read  up  on  art 
of  driving,  eh?" 

"  Do  n't  want  to  know.** 

"  Eggsgttse  me,  Charlie ;  you  must  let  me 
haf  my  liddle  jokes." 

"All  right,  Simon.  You  must  joke  for  both 
of  us.  I  can't. 

"  Come,  come,  Charlie  1  You  haf  lots  to  be 
glad  about." 

"  Do  n't  know.  Buggy  gone ;  horse  gone  ; 
three  ribs  gone.  Drat  the  luck !" 

"  Suppose  you  haf  had  your  wife  with  you, 
Charlie  ?  Think  of  that  once  !" 

"  If  I  had  had  a  wife,  I  would  n't  have  got 
the  buggy,  nor  these  hurts,"  groaning  fear- 
fully. 

"Take  the  adwice  of  a  friend  and  brother, 
and  get  a  wife,  Charlie.  Who  is  going  to  care 
for  you  now  ?  Your  mother  ?  May  be ;  but  she 
is  not  a  wife." 

"  Better  get  well  first,"  sighing  sadly,  said 
the  injured  man. 

"  Delays  are  dangerous,  Charlie.  Better  swap 
one  of  your  broken  ribs  for  a  wife,  eh  ?" 

"  Simon,  do  you  think  any  woman  on  earth 
would  even  so  much  as  look  at  me  in  this  con- 
dition—one eye  shut,  head  in  bandages,  arm  in 


A  PLEASANT  PRISON.  173 

sling,  face  swelled,  body  black  and  bine  ?  Simon, 
you  are  a  fool  1  Ha !  ha !" 

"  Dere,  I  will  go.  Dat  is  all  I  waited  for. 
You  will  get  well  now.  I  shust  wanted  to  hear 
dat  laugh.  *  Richard  *s  himself  again,'  as  it 
were.  Well,  so  long !  I  will  see  you  again  be- 
fore beddime.  You  know  all  you  haf  to  do  is 
to  send  for  Simon,  if  you  haf  not  all  you  want." 

"  Good-bye,  Simon !" 

Mr.  Christie's  really  elegant  home  was  next 
to  that  of  Mr.  Lycurgus  Lysander's,  just  beyond 
which  was  Judge  Tracy's.  The  next  house  to 
Mr.  Christie's  was  that  of  Simon  Hunter's. 
With  such  surroundings  he  was  not  in  danger 
of  being  neglected.  His  mother  presided  over 
his  home  with  stately  grace,  and  was  wondrous 
kind ;  but  very  quiet  and  sad  in  manner  and 
conversation.  Her  son  inherited  his  vivacity 
from  his  father,  and  his  tenderness  from  his 
mother. 

"  May  I  see  Mr.  Christie?" 

"  Yes,  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Christie,  rising  to  meet 
Miss  Edith  Lysander,  as  she  was  shown  into  her 
room.  "  Come  with  me.  He  will  be  delighted 
to  see  you." 

The  two  ascended  the  stairs  where  Mr.  Chris- 
tie lay  in  his  spacious  and  richly  furnished  apart- 
ment. 

"Miss   Edith!"   he  exclaimed,   "I   am— ah! 


174  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

O! — quite  honored — ha!  ha!  ha!  But  see — ha! 
ha! — my  right  arm  is  in  this  sling,  and — ah! 
O! — I  must  give  you  my  left  hand — ha!  ha!  ha!" 

"I  am  glad  you  have  a  hand  left  to  give  me, 
Mr.  Christie.  I  am  so—" 

"Very  good!  Very  good!  Quite  good,  in- 
deed— ha!  ha!  Miss  Edith,  I  did  not  know — 
ah!  O! — you  were  given  to  puns — ha!  ha!  ha!" 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Christie.  The  last 
thing  I  should  think  of  doing  is  to  make  a  pun 
intentionally  in  the  presence  of  suffering." 

"You  are  quite  excusable,  Miss  Edith — ah! 
O! — for  I  assure  you  I  am  not  suffering — ha!  ha ! 
Indeed,  I  feel  quite  comfortable." 

"Does  your  head  hurt  you,  Mr.  Christie?" 
and  Edith  innocently  and  very  tenderly  laid 
her  soft,  warm  palm  on  the  one  spot  on  his 
forehead  not  covered  with  bandages,  Mrs.  Chris- 
tie the  meantime  exploring  beneath  the  covers 
to  see  that  the  support  for  his  arm  was  in 
proper  place. 

"No! — yes!  —  that  is,  sometimes;  but  not 
just  at  this  particular  minute — ha!  ha!  I  think 
it  will  before  very  long — ah!  O!" 

Mr.  Christie  had  never  spent  a  whole  day  in 
bed  as  an  invalid  since  he  was  a  child,  and  all 
this  nursing  and  tender  care  was  new  and  very 
delightful  to  him.  He  was  not  very  particular 
whether  he  recovered  rapidly  or  not. 


A  PLEASANT  PRISON.  175 

"Is  there  anything  I  could  do  for  you,  Mr. 
Christie?  Mamma  says  you  were  so  kind  to 
papa  -when  he  had  the  fever.  We  all  are  so 
glad  we  can  repay  you  now,  in  a  little  measure. 
Of  course,  we  are  sorry  you  are  hurt,  and  all 
that,  and  the  buggy  was  right  new,  too ;  but  if 
you  had  to  be  hurt,  why  we  are  glad  it  hap- 
pened here,  and  not  when  you  were  on  your 
vacation  trip ;  for  then  you  would  have  to  go  to 
those  dismal  hospitals.  Now,  if  you  think  of 
anything  I  could  do  for  you,  let  me  know. 
Mamma  says  we  must  not  neglect  you  a  minute, 
for  papa's  sake." 

"It  is  very  kind  of  your  mamma  to  send  you, 
and  very  kind  of  you  to  come." 

"Please  do  not  mention  it.  It  is  nothing. 
It  is  a  pleasure  to  take  care  of  our  friends. 
Now,  what  can  I  do  for  you?" 

"I  think  he  ought  to  sleep  all  he  can,"  said 
Mrs.  Christie,  softly,  and  with  the  faintest  smile. 

"O!"  said  Miss  Edith,  stopping  her  lips  with 
a  finger  pressed  tight  against  them,  and  arose 
as  if  to  withdraw  at  once. 

Mr.  Christie  heard  the  remark,  and  noted 
Edith's  movement  with  alarm. 

"I  think  so,  too,"  he  replied,  not  wishing  to 
contradict  his  mother,  nor  to  discredit  her  judg- 
ment "I  generally  read  myself  to  sleep;  but 
I  can  not  do  that  now.'* 


17*  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"Do  you  think  I  could  read  you  to  sleep, 
Mr.  Christie?" 

"You— ah'l  O!— might  try— ha!  ha!  ha!— 
Miss  Edith.  Nobody  has  ever  tried  yet — ha!  ha! 

"I  shall  be  only  too  happy!  What  shall  I 
read?" 

"Would  you  mind  reading  the  last  number  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Review  f  It  is — ah!  O! — 
rather  heavy  reading,  and  has  a — ah!  O! — a 
druggy  air — ha!  ha!  ha! — and  ought  to  have  a 
soporific  effect — ha!  ha!  ha!" 

;'O,  Mr.  Christie!  how  can  I  ever  pronounce 
all  those  hard  names?" 

"I  can  pronounce  them  for  you,  Miss  Edith — 
ha!  ha!  ha!" 

"Then  you  will  never  go  to  sleep,  if  you  have 
to  stay  awake  to  pronounce  the  names  for  me!" 

"Well,  take  something  else — ha!  ha!  The 
Congressional  Record  is  there.  You  might  read 
some  speeches — ha!  ha! — on  removing  duty 
from  quinine." 

M  No ;  let  me  try  the  Pharmaceutical  Review, 
It  will  be  too  funny  to  learn  to  pronounce  those 
horrid  names.  You  will  not  mind  staying  awake 
a  little  while  to  pronounce  them  for  me,  will 
you,  Mr.  Christie  ?" 

"  No,  Miss  Edith — ha  I  ha !  ha ! — I  dare  say 
you  will  need  but  little  help." 

"  Thank  you  1"  drawing  a  chair  near  to  the 


A  PLEASANT  PRISON.  \TI 

bedside.  "But  what  will  you  do,  Mrs.  Christie? 
Listen?' 

"Yes;  but  down-stairs,  dearie.  If  Charlie 
needs  anything,  just  tap  the  bell,  and  I  will 
come  up." 

"Why  can  not  I  get  it  for  him ?" 

*'  I  am  going  to  sleep — ha  !  ha  !  ha ! — mother, 
and  will  not  need  anything — ha  !  ha  1  ha !" 

Mrs.  Christie  smiled  softly,  and  quietly  went 
below  stairs. 

Edith  spread  the  Review  in  her  lap,  leaned 
over  it,  and  commenced  to  read  the  first  article 
on  the  editorial  pages,  the  meanwhile  toying 
with  the  charm  that  hung  from  her  necklace. 
Mr.  Christie  had  known  Edith  from  her  girl- 
hood days ;  but  he  had  not  before  noticed  how 
womanly  she  had  become  in  appearance,  though 
retaining  the  artlessness  of  her  younger  days. 
As  she  read  the  Review  editorials  aloud,  he 
silently  read  her  face  and  studied  the  character 
so  plainly  described  thereon. 

"What  does  that  mean,  Mr.  Christie?"  Edith 
asked,  looking  up  suddenly. 

"Why— ah!  O!  ha!  ha!  ha !— Miss  Edith,  I 
beg  pardon ;  but  I  really  did  not  hear — ah ! 
O !  —  that  is,  I  was  thinking  of  something 
else." 

"  Now,  listen !"  and  she  read  the  sentence 
again. 

12 


r 78  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"Well — ah!  O !— the  plain  English  of  that 
is  that  a  druggist's  life  is  not  a  happy  one !" 

"But  is  n't  it?" 

"  Some  druggists — ah  !  O  !  ha  I  ha  ! — are 
never  satisfied  with  what  they  have.  But — ah ! 
O! — Miss  Edith — ha!  ha! — that's  not  me!" 

"  I  should  think  not !"  with  wide-open  sur- 
prise. "You  have  everything  to  make  one 
happy,  Mr.  Christie." 

"  Not  everything,  Miss  Edith,"  soberly. 

"  No ;  not  a  horse  or  buggy  !" 

"  Now,  that  is — ah  !  O  ! — mean — ha  !  ha  ! — 
Miss  Edith,  considering  my  present  state— 
ha!  ha!" 

"  Well,  let  me  finish  this  editorial.  I  declare ! 
I  am  beginning  to  get  interested  in  drugs  and 
druggists  myself!"  Then  she  read  on  just  as 
if  she  had  not  sent  an  arrow  straight  to  Mr. 
Christie's  heart — an  arrow  that  he  did  not  care 
to  draw  out,  but  which  actually  made  him  think 
less  of  his  bodily  hurts.  Did  she  mean  to  say 
that?  or  was  it  one  of  her  artless  outbursts  of 
sincerity  ? 

When  she  closed  the  Review,  and  glanced  at 
the  patient,  his  eyes  were  shut,  and  he  was 
breathing  regularly  and  quietly.  She  looked  at 
him  a  minute,  and  then  said  softly,  inquiringly : 

"Asleep?" 

Not  a  muscle  moved,  but  he  was  not  asleep. 


A  PLEASANT  PRISON.  179 

He  was  feigning  sleep;  for  he  did  not  wish  to 
\veary  the  reader  the  first  day,  and  did  not 
want  her  to  think  her  labors  were  in  vain.  He 
heard  the  soft  swish  ot  her  dress  as  she  arose 
and  tip-toed  out  of  the  room.  He  heard  her 
say  to  his  mother,  in  the  hall  down-stairs,  as 
she  paused  in  the  open  door  way. 

"  He  seemed  to  enjoy  it.  I  will  come  again 
to-morrow." 

Then  he  went  to  sleep.  His  last  wish  was 
that  he  might  not  awaken  at  all  until  to- 
morrow. 


XYI. 

BITTER-SWEET. 

1  I  THE  Temperance  Society  could  not  do  other- 
-*-  wise  than  indorse  the  invitation  Miss  Josie 
had  given  Mr.  Morrison  to  address  the  next  as- 
sembly of  the  workers  and  friends  of  the  cause. 
They  had  no  desire  to  do  otherwise. 

The  Banner  always  gave  prominence  to  an- 
nouncements of  meetings  of  the  Temperance 
Society,  and  in  every  way  advertised  the  speak- 
ers. No  exception  was  made  in  this  case ;  but 
the  editor  was  sure  that  Morrison  was  insincere 
in  his  attitude,  though  he  could  not  decide  what 
motive  prompted  him. 

Miss  Josie  was  entirely  free  of  suspicion  of 
insincerity,  and  Jennie  Jessup  was  confident 
that  a  great  reformation  in  her  cousin  was  at 
hand.  The  one  out  of  pure  philanthropy,  the 
other  out  of  pure  love,  rejoiced  that  he  was  to 
address  the  assembly,  and  held  frequent  con- 
ferences to  perfect  plans  for  leading  the  young 
legislator  into  hearty  espousals  of  their  princi- 
ples and  faithful  observance  of  their  practices. 

"  You  can  influence  him  as  no  other  person 
can,  Josie,"  said  Jessie,  as  they  were  discussing 

the  matter  at  Josie's  home. 
iSo 


BITTER-SWEET.  181 

"I  do  not  know,"  she  replied,  hesitatingly 
and  thoughtfully,  at  the  same  time  flushing 
slightly  at  the  compliment  paid  her  persuasive 
powers  by  Jennie. 

UI  am  sure  you  can.  He  has  spoken  lately 
to  me  in  snch  warm  terms  of  admiration  for 
you  that  I  know  you  can  do  more  to  bring  him 
out  on  our  side  than  any  one  else,  or  all  of  us 
put  together." 

"Do  you  really  think  so?"  Josie  asked 
eagerly,  looking  up,  the  slight  flush  deepening 
to  a  bright  coloring,  that  made  her  lovely  face 
all  the  lovelier  in  its  softness  and  radiancy. 
Jennie's  quick  eye  caught  this  change,  and  she 
was  encouraged  thereby  to  press  the  case  to  its 
utmost. 

"If  he  is  my  cousin,  Josie,  you  must  agree 
with  me.  that  he  is  brilliant,  entertaining,  very 
gifted,  and  destined  to  exert  a  great  influence 
with  men.  If  that  influence  can  only  be  di- 
rected toward  sobriety  and  other  good  causes, 
what  a  blessing  his  life  may  be,  and  whoever 
saves  him  from  drunkenness  and  a  wrong  life, 
saves  scores  of  others  through  him :  perhaps 
hundreds;  may  be  thousands!" 

For  a  little  while  Josie  had  been  oblivious  to 
Jennie's  presence,  and  did  not  really  hear;  or, 
if  hearing,  did  not  comprehend  what  she  had 
just  said.  Josie  was  dwelling  on  the  words  first 


r 82  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

spoken:  "Lately  he  has  spoken  in  such  warm 
terms  of  admiration  of  you."  She  was  flattered. 
Thaddeus  loved  her  devotedly.  She  was  sure  of 
that.  She  loved  him  fondly.  There  was  no 
doubting  that.  But  here  was  another  soul  turn- 
ing toward  her,  praising  her,  and  waiting  to  be 
led  by  her.  He  was  Thad's  enemy  and  rival. 
That  she  knew ;  but  why  might  she  not  become 
a  peacemaker  and  unite  their  energies  instead  of 
permitting  them  to  waste  their  strength  fighting 
each  other?  Could  she  not  prove  her  devotion 
to  Thad  by  making  friends  with  Wendell,  and 
using  him  for  Thad's  advancement?  It  looked 
as  if  she  could.  She  was  dreaming  of  this  when 
Jennie,  who  had  waited  a  minute  or  more  for 
her  to  reply,  said,  pleadingly : 

<(  Will  you  not  undertake  the  task  ?" 

**  I  beg  pardon,  Jennie,  I  was  lost  in  reverie. 
What  did  you  say?" 

"  Will  you  not  undertake  to  win  Wendell 
over  to  our  side  ?  He  is  on  your  side  already," 
she  said,  with  a  little  laugh,  and  an  expression 
of  eyes  and  tone  that  pleased  Josie  greatly. 

"Yes,"  she  said,  meditatively,  "if  you  think 
I  can  do  any  good.  But  I  undertake  it  un- 
willingly. Mr.  Morrison  is  not  a  congenial  com- 
panion. His  tastes  are  so  different  from  mine 
in  every  way."  This  she  said  more  to  herself 
than  to  Jennie. 


BITTER-SWEET.  183 

"O!  that  is  because  you  do  not  know  him. 
At  heart  he  is  royally  good.  You  know  him 
only  as  a  public  man.  Just  wait  until  you  know 
the  private  man.  Then  you  will  change  your 
mind." 

"  Perhaps !"  said  Josie,  with  a  bright  gleam 
of  pleasure  at  the  thought  of  the  reformation  to 
be  wrought  by  her  influence. 

After  a  little  while,  having  completed  ar- 
rangements for  the  next  assembly,  Jennie  said : 

"  Does  Wendell  visit  here?" 

"  O  no;  only  to  see  father  on  business." 

"  Excuse  me,  Josie ;  bnt  I  am  so  anxious 
about  him  that  I  may  seem  impertinent.  Would 
you  object  if  I  should  bring  him  up  some  night 
for  a  call  ?  He  comes  to  our  honse  two  or  three 
times  a  week  now." 

"  I  should  be  too  happy  to  have  him  come — 
with  you," 

"When?*1 

"  Any  night — except — no,  any  night  I  have 
no  engagements  for  this  week." 

"Wednesday  night?" 

"  Yes — Wednesday  night — or  Thursday,  if  it 
makes  no  difference,"  Josie  said,  remembering 
that  Wednesday  was  reserved  for  Thaddeus. 
But  then  Thaddeus  need  not  interfere  in  her 
reform  work.  She  would  sacrifice  her  prefer- 
ences to  her  work;  why  should  not  he? 


1 84  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  Wendell  generally  comes  down  to  our  house 
on  Wednesday  night,"  said  Jennie,  "  and  I  will 
send  him  a  note  that  we  are  to  spend  the 
evening  here." 

"  Very  well." 

When  Wendell  received  Jennie's  note,  he 
read  it  hastily,  not  giving  due  attention  to  the 
words  used,  and  rushed  at  once  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  he  was  to  call  on  Josie  at  her  sug- 
gestion, and  not  by  arrangement  made  by  his 
cousin  Jennie,  and  forthwith  fell  to  congrat- 
ulating himself  on  the  easy  marches  he  was 
making  to  the  citadel  he  was  intending  to  cap- 
ture. He  gave  no  credit  to  his  cousin  for  her 
part  in  the  work,  but  arrogated  to  himself  all 
praise  for  his  captivating  manner — when  he  set 
his  heart  to  it! 

Miss  Josie  was  ill  at  ease  after  Jennie  left 
She  doubted  the  policy  of  having  Thaddeus 
meet  Wendell  in  her  parlor  the  first  night  the 
latter  should  call.  It  would  be  better  to  excuse 
herself  to  Thaddeus,  and  receive  and  entertain 
Jennie  and  Wendell  alone.  So  she  sent  a  note 
to  him,  saying: 

"  MY  DEAR  THADDHTTS, — Will  you  excuse  me  from  the 
engagement  for  Wednesday  night?  I  will  explain  why, 
sometime ;  but  do  not  ask  me.  Let  me  take  my  own  time 
about  it.  Come  down  Thursday  night,  and  Friday  night, 
and  even  Saturday  uiglit,  to  make  up  for  Wednesday  night. 

"JOSIR." 


BITTER-SWEET.  185 

Thaddens  read  the  note  with  real  sorrow. 
He  had  counted  much  on  the  Wednesday  night 
visit  His  heart  leaped  in  joy  at  the  cordial  in- 
vitation to  call  three  successive  evenings,  but 
sank  again  when  he  recalled  that  every  night 
had  important  business  engagements  that  could 
not  be  put  aside. 

But,  of  course,  he  would  excuse  Josie.  Why 
should  n't  he  ?  She  had  never  before  made 
such  a  request.  It  was  not  unreasonable.  The 
note  he  sent  in  reply  was  warm,  regretful,  sub- 
missive, and  loving.  It  touched  Josie's  heart, 
and  made  her  wish  she  had  not  consented  to 
receive  Wendell's  call. 

Wednesday  afternoon,  Wendell  was  in  the 
Banner  office,  reading  the  city  exchanges  which 
had  come  on  the  late  train.  To  take  the  best 
seat  in  the  office,  to  appropriate  the  latest  and 
brightest  exchanges  for  first  perusal,  and  to  read 
aloud  some  striking  sentence  and  give  an  oral 
comment  for  Thad's  enlightenment,  had  become 
so  common  with  Wendell  that  the  young  editor 
had  ceased  to  chafe  under  such  unwarranted 
treatment,  and  quietly  submitted  to  the  intru- 
sion and  the  annoyance.  However  coolly  Wen- 
dell had  acted  toward  Thad  at  public  meetings 
or  elsewhere,  however  insolently  he  had  talked 
to  him  in  the  presence  of  others,  or  however 
maliciously  he  had  talked  about  him  in  his  ab- 


1 86  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

sence,  he  never  failed  to  make  his  daily  call  at 
the  Banner  office  to  read  the  papers,  and  to 
leave  to  be  printed  some  item  complimentary 
to  himselfc 

"  Hello !  here  is  a  good  one  !M 

So  saying,  Wendell  dropped  his  feet  from 
the  editor's  desk,  picked  up  the  editor's  pen, 
and,  not  seeing  any  paper  near  by,  thrust  his 
hand  into  his  coat-pocket,  and  brought  up  his 
cousin  Jennie's  note  telling  him  of  the  engage- 
ment at  Miss  Josie's  home.  Turning  the  sheet 
over,  he  wrote  an  item  for  the  Banner  on  the 
blank  side,  put  a  paper-weight  on  it,  and  soon 
after  went  out  of  the  office,  leaving  the  item  for 
the  editor's  inspection.  He  read  it,  and  was 
about  to  hand  it  out  for  copy,  when  he  noticed 
the  writing  on  the  other  side,  and  indifferently 
turned  it  over  to  see  what  it  was.  He  read  in 
amazement  He  could  scarcely  believe  his  eyes. 
Then  it  was  to  meet  Wendell  that  Josie  had 
canceled  her  engagement  for  Wednesday  night! 
He  was  deeply  wounded.  He  was  very  angry 
at  himself  and  also  at  Josie.  His  impulse  was 
to  tear  the  sheet  of  note-paper  into  pieces,  and 
toss  them  into  the  waste-basket  He  concluded, 
instead,  to  rewrite  the  item  for  the  printers,  and 
to  keep  the  note  for  future  use.  He  put  it 
away  in  a  drawer,  and  resumed  his  duties  with 
a  heavy  heart. 


BITTER-SWEET.  187 

Just  before  he  went  home  that  evening  he 
re-read  the  note,  and  discerned,  what  he  had 
not  noticed  before,  that  Miss  Jennie  clearly 
stated  that  the  engagement  was  at  her  solicita- 
tion. Then  he  was  ashamed  of  himself  for 
doubting  Josie  for  one  second.  He  was  ashamed 
of  himself  for  flying  into  a  passion  over  such  a 
small  affair.  He  saw  how  discreetly  and  kindly 
Josie  had  acted ;  for  he  certainly  would  not  be 
happy  in  Wendell's  presence  in  Judge  Tracy's 
parlor.  He  went  home  comforted.  He  admired 
Josie  more  than  ever.  He  could  trust  her  now 
to  do  the  right  thing  at  all  times.  He  was 
proud  of  her.  She  was  a  woman  of  rare  tact. 
He  loved  her.  She  had  proved  herself  so  ten- 
der of  his  feelings,  and  had  sacrificed  her  pleas- 
ure to  his  peace  of  mind.  Those  were  the 
thoughts  that  made  his  walk  toward  home 
bright  and  cheerful. 

He  laughed  aloud  as  he  passed  through  the 
gate  opening  into  his  own  door-yard.  He  would, 
just  for  a  joke,  next  week,  ask  Josie  to  excuse 
him  from  his  engagement,  and  would  then  spend 
the  evening  with  Miss  Jennie  Jessup.  That 
would  make  them  even,  and  both  would  have 
something  to  tease  the  other  about.  Happy 
thought  1 


XVIL 

CROSS  PURPOSES. 

TTTHADDEUS  did  not  see  Josie  before  the 
-|-  next  Wednesday  night,  owing  to  many 
hindering  occurrences,  the  chief  of  which  was 
her  absence  at  a  neighboring  city  for  a  few  days  ; 
so  he  was  looking  forward  with  blissful  antici- 
pations to  that  visit,  when  he  remembered  his 
determination  to  retaliate,  in  a  mild  way,  for 
his  disappointment  of  the  week  before.  It 
required  an  heroic  effort  to  deny  himself  the 
pleasure  in  store  for  the  uncertain  sweets  of 
revenge ;  but  he  was  equal  to  the  task,  and,  at 
a  late  hour,  sent  the  office-boy  with  a  note  to 
Josie,  asking  to  be  excused,  as  "  very  important 
interests  demanded  his  immediate  attention." 
He  justified  his  note  by  saying  to  himself,  as 
he  intended  to  say  to  Josie  when  he  met  her, 
that  his  relation  to  Josie  as  an  accepted  suitor 
was  a  very  important  interest,  and  that  was  what 
he  intended  to  attend  to  in  his  call  on  Miss 
Jennie  Jessup. 

"  A  very  happy  surprise !"  said  Jennie,  cor- 
dially, as  she  admitted  Thacldeus  to  her  parlor. 
"I  was  just  thinking  about  you." 
i£8 


C&GSS  PURPOSES.  189 

"  'It  is  sweet  to  be  remembered  when  we  are 
away,'  he  replied,  gallantly,  repeating  a  part  of 
a  song  that  Miss  Jennie  sang  often,  and  blushed, 
in  spite  of  himself,  at  the  very  great  frankness  of 
that  remark. 

Miss  Jennie  blushed  slightly  in  return,  and 
said,  gayly : 

"That  seems  to  be  with  you  one  of  'The 
Songs  we  Never  can  Forget,'  "  quoting  the  title 
of  another  song  that  she  had  sung,  and  in  which 
Thad  sang  the  bass. 

"When  did  we  ever  sing  that?"  he  said, 
rising  from  the  chair  where  he  had  just  seated 
himself,  and  going  over  to  the  piano. 

"O,  ever  and  ever  so  long  ago!"  Jennie  re- 
plied, taking  her  place  at  the  instrument,  and 
waiting  for  the  music  which  Thad  was  search- 
ing for  on  the  music-rack. 

While  they  were  singing,  Mrs.  Jessup  opened 
the  door,  and  admitted  Wendell  Morrison.  Not 
to  disturb  their  singing,  she  led  him  back  into 
the  sitting-room,  glad  indeed  for  a  few  minutes 
conversation  with  him  alone. 

"  No,  auntie,  I  will  not  stay.  Jennie  has  com- 
pany, I  see.  I  will  call  some  other  evening. 
No,  I  can  not  to-night" 

"  She  will  be  so  disappointed  if  you  do  not," 
his  aunt  said,  pleadingly. 

"Do  not  tell  her  I  was  here.     I  will  come 


190  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

down  again — tomorrow  night  perhaps.  Who  is 
in  there  ?" 

"Thad  Throckmorton." 

"Has  n't  been  here  lately,  has  he  ?" 

"No,  not  for  weeks." 

"That  settles  it,  auntie.  Thad  is  a  splendid 
fellow.  I  wonld  not  break  in  on  Jennie  to- 
night for  a  fortune.  Do  not  tell  her  I  was 
here." 

Wendell  slipped  softly  to  the  curtains  that 
separated  the  parlors,  and  peeped  in,  his  aunt 
looking  in  with  him.  Then  he  bowed  himself 
out,  saying  under  his  breath,  for  the  music  had 
ceased :  "  H-s-h !  Not  a  word,  auntie !  Will  come 
down  again  soon.  Do  not  tell  her.  Thad  's  a 
good  fellow.  Am  glad  he  likes  Jennie." 

Before  he  reached  the  front  gate  the  piano 
rang  out  an  interlude,  and  the  last  he  heard  of 
Jennie  and  Thad,  as  he  walked  rather  hurriedly 
away,  was  a  strain  of  a  duet  they  were  singing. 

A  half-hour  later,  Wendell  stood  ringing  the 
bell  at  Judge  Tracy's  door. 

"No;  I  will  answer  the  bell,"  said  Josie,  fly- 
ing down  the  stairs,  and  intercepting  the  maid 
in  the  hallway.  She  was  sure  Thad  had  changed 
his  plans,  and  had  come  anyway,  though  late. 

"May  I  have  the  pleasure?"  said  Wendell, 
bowing  low,  and  smiling  blandly,  as  he  paused 
a  moment  on  the  threshold. 


CX OSS  PURPOSES.  191 

"O!"  gasped  Josie,  when  she  saw  who  the 
'caller  was,  and  pressed  both  hands  close  over 
her  heart.  "  I  thought — pray  come  in,  Mr. 
Morrison.  Do,  please,  excuse  my  blundering. 
I  was  not  expecting  you." 

"Some  one  else,  then?"  said  Wendell,  in  a 
tone  of  offended  dignity,  yet  with  courteous 
humility — a  manner  and  a  tone  of  which  he  was 
complete  master. 

For  a  moment  Josie  was  confused,  but  only 
for  a  moment,  recalling  instantly  that  she  was 
not  looking  for  Thad,  and  answered  composedly : 

"No  one  else,  Mr.  Morrison;  nor  was  I  ex- 
pecting you." 

"  I  hope  I  do  not  intrude  ?" 

"  By  no  means,  Mr.  Morrison.  You  must  ex- 
cuse my  blundering.  Is — is  youi  mother  quite 
well?" 

"Quite,  Miss  Josie.  I  trust  Mrs.  Tracy  is  in 
good  health?" 

"  She  is,  thank  you  I" 

For  some  reason  both  felt  constrained,  and 
the  atmosphere  was  icy.  Josie  regretted  this ; 
for  she  was  truly  desirous  of  reaching  Wendell, 
and  accomplishing  his  reformation.  He  was 
sorry ;  for  he  had  counted  on  a  cordial  recep- 
tion, and  had  felt  sure  of  making  a  grand  march 
toward  the  conquest  of  Miss  Josie's  heart.  He 
rallied  his  retreating  confidence,  and  essayed  a 


192  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

flank  movement.  So  lie  said  abruptly,  but  with 
apparent  earnestness  and  sincerity : 

"You  can  not  imagine,  Miss  Josie,  how  much 
interest  I  feel  in  the  success  of  your  temperance 
movement" 

"I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  that.  Of  course, 
we  are  all  so  grateful  to  you  for  your  address 
the  other  night.  At  our  regular  meeting  we 
will  adopt  a  resolution  of  thanks,  and  will  send 
you  an  engrossed  copy ;  but  I  must  say  to  you 
personally  how  your  words  stirred  my  soul !" 

"You  honor  me  above  my  deserts,  Miss  Josie. 
I  am  not  insensible  to  the  honor  conferred  on 
me  by  your  invitation,  and  am  truly  glad  that 
my  efforts  were  appreciated." 

"  Indeed  they  were.  Our  cause  has  taken  on 
fresh  vigor  since  then.  I  am  quite  sure  you 
have  done  us  a  world  of  good." 

"Can  you  sing  that  song  for  me  to-night, 
Miss  Josie,  that  you  sang  then?" 

"If  you  desire  it,"  she  said,  promptly. 

"I  certainly  do.  May  I  turn  the  music 
for  yon  ?" 

"Thanks!" 

Miss  Josie  was  delighted  beyond  measure  at 
this  invitation.  Her  heart  was  in  a  flutter,  and 
the  hot  blood  mounted  to  her  lace,  and  she  cast 
a  wistful  glance  at  Wendell  as  he  stood  beside 
her.  She  had  selected  and  sung  that  song  at 


C&OSS  PURPOSES.  193 

the  assembly  for  his  especial  benefit,  hoping  it 
would  touch  his  heart;  and  now  he  asked  her 
to  sing  it  again !  It  had  surely  been  a  success- 
ful venture.  What  would  Thad  say  when  he 
knew  of  her  victory  ?  These  thoughts  inspired 
her  with  hope,  and  thrilled  her  soul  with  pleas- 
ure. Wendell  noted  her  animation,  her  evident 
happiness  at  being  asked  to  sing  for  him,  and 
he  counted  the  movement  a  fortunate  one.  She 
was  not  as  hard  to  capture  as  he  had  supposed. 
But,  then,  he  was  a  skillful  maneuverer.  So  he 
thought,  and  he  smiled  appreciatively  upon  the 
fair  singer.  He  did  not  ask  her  to  sing  again ; 
but  the  remainder  of  the  evening  devoted  him- 
self to  entertaining  her,  relating  amusing  epi- 
sodes in  his  legislative  life,  describing  famous 
men  he  had  met,  and  manifesting  an  interest  in 
the  success  of  moral  reform  movements  that 
surprised  and  gladdened  Josie, 

"  I  do  not  remember  when  I  spent  a  more 
delightful  evening,  Miss  Josie,"  he  said,  rising 
to  go. 

"  I  am  sure  the  enjoyment  has  been  mutual,'7 
she  said,  earnestly. 

"  I  am  not  sorry  now  that  a  disappointment 
led  to  my  coming  here,  though  to  confess  the 
truth  I  did  not  leave  home  to  come  here." 

"  So  /  am  second  choice,"  she  said,  archly. 

"  Do  not  put  it  that  way,  Miss  Josie.     You 


194  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

see,  I  went  down  to  see  Jennie  Jessup  to-night, 
but  found  Mr.  Throckinorton  was  there ;  and 
as  they  were  having  such  a  fine  time  singing 
together,  I  would  not  let  auntie  tell  them  I  was 
there.  Not  knowing  just  how  to  put  in  the 
evening,  I  ventured  to  come  here.  But,  Miss 
Josie,  you  must  know  if  my  last  call  here  had 
not  been  so  agreeable  I  should  not  have  even 
thought  of  coining  to-night" 

"  Thanks,"  she  said,  calmly,  though  her 
heart  was  in  a  tumult. 

When  he  had  gone,  she  went  to  her  own 
room,  and  was  disconsolate.  She  resolutely  re- 
solved to  keep  her  wouuded  heart  hidden  from 
Thad.  She  almost  lost  all  desire  for  Wendell's 
reformation.  It  had  already  cost  her  much. 
Could  she  afford  the  entire  expense?  There 
was  one  consolation,  however:  Wendell  had 
never  before  shown  any  preference  for  any  lady 
in  that  city,  and  she  had  brought  him  to  her  as 
a  suitor.  She  would  encourage  him  just  enough 
to  hold  him  near  her  until  her  object  was  ac- 
complished. That  would  annoy  Thaddeus,  per- 
haps ;  but  then  had  he  not  given  her  liberty  to 
do  that  by  breaking  an  engagement  with  her  to 
call  on  Jennie  Jessup?  After  all,  it  might  be 
convenient  to  have  Thad  less  attentive  for 
a  while.  Comforted,  she  fell  asleep,  and  dreamed 
away  the  night. 


CROSS  PURPOSES.  195 

At  Jennie's  home,  the  hours  sped  rapidly. 
The  evening  was  devoted  entirely  to  music. 

"I  have  it  now!"  Jennie  exclaimed,  enthusi- 
astically, after  a  particularly  happy  rendering  of 
two  parts  of  a  quartet  song.  "  Let  us  have  a 
select  quartet!  You,  Wendell,  Josie  and  I. 
That  would  be  just  too  splendid  !" 

Thaddeus  smiled,  and  seemed  to  be  looking 
for  another  song. 

M  We  are  so  anxious  about  Wendell,"  Jen- 
nie continued,  softly  thrumming  the  piano  keys 
with  one  hand,  "  and  I  know  it  would  do  him 
good  to  go  with  our  set." 

"  But  would  he?"  Thad  asked,  with  but  little 
show  of  interest. 

"  Certainly.  He  is  trying  to  reform,  I  am 
sure.  Josie  has  great  influence  with  him — more 
than  any  one." 

Thaddeus  sighed  heavily,  and  sank  into  a 
chair  and  drifted  off  into  a  reverie,  as  he  was  so 
wont  to  do. 

Jennie  was  busy  with  her  own  thoughts,  and 
did  not  notice  his  abstraction  for  a  little  while. 
Then  she  said : 

"  Will  you  agree  to  it  ?" 

"  O,  of  course,  if  the  others  will." 

"And  may  I  arrange  for  the  quartet,  if  I 
can  ?" 

"  I  do  n't  think  you  can  ;  but  I  am  in  favor 


196  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

of  it,"  Thad  said,  with  an  attempt  at  indif- 
ference. 

"Yes  I  can.  I  will  begin  right  now.  You 
come  down  Friday  night.  Will  you?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Thad.     "  Then  what  ?" 

"  I  will  ask  cousin  Wendell  to  bring  Josie 
down,  and  after  a  social  hour  we  will  spring  the 
matter  on  them.  They  could  hardly  object, 
could  they,  when  you  and  I  both  insist?" 

Thaddeus  trembled,  and  his  heart  stood 
still.  "  They  could  not  object" — Wendell  and 
Josie — he  said,  over  to  himself.  "  You  and  I 
insist" — Jennie  and  Thaddeus.  What  fate  was 
linking  their  names  like  that? 

"  Could  they  ?"  she  asked  again,  after  waiting 
a  minute  for  him  to  reply. 

"  O,  of  course  not,"  he  answered,  springing 
up  and  looking  at  his  watch.  "  Eleven  o'clock ! 
Is  it  possible !" 

"That  is  early,"  said  Jennie,  brightly. 

"Why  did  I  so  forget  myself?"  Thaddeus 
was  talking  to  himself  more  than  to  Jennie,  and 
thinking  of  Josie  rather  than  of  his  hostess. 

"  I  hope  I  may  have  some  blame  for  that," 
Jennie  said,  laughingly. 

"  You  have  certainly  beguiled  me  into  staying 
an  hour  longer  than  I  should." 

Thaddeus  went  home  sadly,  repenting  at 
every  step  that  he  had  thus  retaliated  upon  Josie. 


XYIII. 

THE  PRAYER-MEETING. 

MOST  unexpected   occurrence,   trivial  in 
•  appearance,  but  important  in  results,  must 
be  recorded  here. 

Rev.  Archibald  Outwright  had  a  way  of  his 
own  in  conducting  the  affairs  of  the  Church  of 
which  he  was  pastor.  He  prided  himself  on  the 
spirit  and  general  excellence  of  the  social  meet- 
ings, especially  prayer  service,  and  never  let 
pass  an  opportunity  to  create  new  interest  in 
that  assembly  of  the  flock.  In  pursuance  of 
this  purpose,  he  called  at  the  office  of  Tracy  & 
Morrison  to  invite  the  young  lawyer  to  come  to 
prayer-meeting.  Could  anything  be  more  auda- 
cious? Yes;  the  inviting  of  Mr.  Morrison  to 
address  the  temperance  rally!  That  had  been 
successful ;  and  why  not  this?  That  had  been 
brought  about  by  the  young  people.  Why 
might  not  a  pastor  achieve  a  similar  victory? 
With  a  courage  that  many  could  never  sum- 
mon, Mr.  Outwright  entered  the  lawyer's  office 
early  one  morning,  and,  finding  him  alone,  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  make  his  errand  known,  en- 
couraged by  the  hearty  greeting  extended  him. 
It  was  easy  for  Wendell  to  be  hearty  in  his 

14  197 


198  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

friendship.  It  was  a  cultivated  grace — a  part 
of  his  trade. 

"  Why,  my  dear  Mr.  Outwright  I  Is  this  not 
early  for  a  clergyman  to  be  abroad?  I  had  an 
idea  that,  except  on  rare  occasions,  they  in- 
dulged in  large  measures  of  '  tired  nature's 
sweet  restorer.'  But  I  am  royally  glad  to  see 
you!  How  are  you,  this  bright  morning?" 

"  Quite  well,  I  thank  you.  No,  it  is  not  un- 
usually early  for  me  to  be  out;  but,  if  it  were, 
this  would  be  '  a  rare  occasion '  which  would 
justify  iny  early  call.  I  have  come  to  ask  you 
to  be  present  at  prayer-meeting  to-night." 

"  What  1"  Wendell  said  in  unfeigned  aston- 
ishment ;  "  come  to  ask  me  to  attend  prayer- 
meeting!  Mr.  Outwright,  you  surely  are  not 
'guying'  me,  as  the  boys  say?" 

"  Not  by  any  means.  I  am  in  earnest.  Will 
you  cotne  to-night?" 

"Well,  well!"  Wendell  said,  meditatively. 
And  then  he  lifted  his  eyes  to  Mr.  Outwright's 
and  added :  "  You  are  the  first  man  that  ever 
invited  me  to  such  a  place ;  but  I  have  scores 
of  invitations  to  go  to  the  bad.  I  hardly  know 
what  to  say.  I  would  do  almost  anything  to 
please  you,  Mr.  Outwright,  for  I  have  always 
considered  you  my  friend  ;  but  this  is  so  un- 
usual a  request  I  am  not  prepared  to  answer  at 
once.  I  v/ill  take  it  under  advisement." 


THE  PRAYER-MEETING.  199 

"  Do  nothing  of  the  kind,"  said  the  minister, 
earnestly,  at  the  same  time  putting  his  hand 
upon  Wendell's  shoulder  in  a  respectiully  famil- 
iar style,  peculiar  to  himself.  "It  is  a  little 
thing  I  ask  you  to  do.  Say  yes  or  no  now,  and 
send  me  on  my  way  rejoicing;  for  I  know  you 
will  say  yes." 

"  But  you  must  know,  Mr.  Outwright,  that  I 
have  no  faith  in  religion — such  as  you  teach. 
I  believe  in  being  as  honest  as  one  can,  and  not 
get  swindled  out  of  everything  he  has;  I  be- 
lieve in  helping  the  poor,  and  all  that ;  but  as 
to  praying  and  singing — why,  somehow,  I  do  n't 
take  to  it  like  some  people." 

"Then  you  say  no?"  Mr.  Outwright  asked, 
in  a  tone  that  clearly  indicated  his  regret  at 
the  decision. 

"  Not  exactly ;  but  I  wanted  to  warn  you 
that  if  I  should  say  '  yes,'  it  would  be  to  ac- 
commodate you,  and  not  to  please  myself!" 

"  I  understand  that ;  I  ask  it  as  a  personal 
favor — this  time ;  some  other  time  I  might  urge 
other  considerations." 

"Well,  then,  to  please  you" — stopping  to 
weigh  well  his  decision — "  I  will  come ;  pro- 
vided, I  can  get  some  one  to  come  with  me — 
some  one  who  is  as  much  a  stranger  there  as  I 
will  be — to  keep  me  company,  you  know." 

"  Good  !"  Mr.  Outwright  exclaimed,  "  I  wish 


200  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

I  had  a  hundred  and  fifty  men  like  yon  in  the 
Chnrch ;  men  who  will  not  only  come  them- 
selves, but  who  will  bring  some  one  for  com- 
pany. Good !  Be  sure  to  bring  a  companion. 
Good-bye !» 

In  an  instant  Mr.  Outwright  was  out  of  the 
door,  rejoicing  in  his  heart  over  the  success  of 
that  venture. 

The  young  politician  sat  in  his  office  after 
the  minister  left  him,  smiling  over  the  bright- 
ness of  his  future  prospects.  Rapidly,  very 
rapidly,  his  mind  had  wrought  out  a  scheme 
while  Mr.  Outwright  was  awaiting  his  decision. 
With  his  usual  quickness,  he  saw  the  end  from 
the  beginning,  and  decided  accordingly. 

"  What  a  surprise  that  will  be  for  her  I"  he 
said  aloud,  as  he  turned  to  his  desk  to  write  a 
note  to  Miss  Tracy.  "  But  I  will  not  let  it  be 
the  last.  One  surprise  shall  follow  another  until 
the  last  great  surprise,  when  she  finds  herself 
my  wife,  and  I  her  lord.  Then,  then  I  will  go 
and  come  as  /please." 

He  wrote,  asking  her  to  go  with  him  to 
prayer-meeting. 

When  Miss  Tracy  received  the  note,  and  had 
read  it  once,  she  held  it  open  in  her  hand,  and 
thoughtfully  considered  its  request. 

To  prayer-meeting?  Why,  she  rarely  went 
herself  1  To  prayer-meeting  with  Wendell  Mor- 


THE  PRAYER-MEETING.  2OI 

rison?  What  would  Thaddens  think?  What 
would  people  say? 

She  turned  to  the  note,  and  read  it  again. 
There  was  no  reference  to  his  recent  call  at  her 
house;  but  perhaps,  after  all,  something  she  said 
then  had  led  him  to  believe  she  was  not  only 
a  member  of  the  Church,  but  a  regular  attend- 
ant on  all  its  services.  It  would  not  be  safe 
for  her  to  disappoint  him  just  now,  when  she 
was  so  earnestly  endeavoring  to  reclaim  him 
from  the  use  of  intoxicants !  So  she  read  the 
note  a  third  time,  and  in  new  light.  Hastily 
writing  a  note  of  acceptance,  she  dispatched  it 
by  the  messenger  who  had  brought  Wendell's 
request,  and  felt  she  had  done  a  noble  act — had 
sacrificed  herself  and  Thaddeus,  too,  on  the 
altar  of  duty. 

Encouraged  by  his  signal  success  in  persuad- 
ing the  young  lawyer  to  promise  to  attend 
prayer-meeting,  Mr.  Outwright  went  immedi- 
ately to  see  the  editor  of  the  Banner,  counting 
that  there  he  could  not  fail,  and  was  certain  of 
adding  at  least  two  persons  to  the  members 
who  would  be  at  Church  that  night. 

"  As  usual,  working  for  life  !"  he  said,  closing 
behind  him  the  door  of  the  editor's  office,  where 
Thaddeus  was  driving  his  pencil  across  the 
pages  of  soft  paper  as  if  only  an  hour  remained 
for  a  whole  day's  work. 


202  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  Correct !"  he  said,  glancing  up  at  the 
speaker,  and  then  continuing  his  work.  "Have 
a  seat ;"  and  on  the  pencil  dashed.  "  Be  done 
in  a  minute,"  he  added,  and  wrote  on.  "  The 
boys  are  nearly  out  of  copy,"  he  explained  a 
minute  later,  as  he  finished  the  page  and 
handed  a  lot  of  copy  to  the  foreman. 

"  In  that  case  I  will  tarry  but  a  minute.  By 
the  way,  did  you  know  this  is  prayer-meeting 
night?" 

Thaddeus  laughed,  and  said :  "  So  it  is ! 
Well,  I  have  been  a  little  negligent  for  some 
weeks,  I  confess;  but  I  will  turn  over  a  new 
leaf  this  very  day,  pastor,  and  will  keep  it 
turned  right  along.  That  sermon  of  yours  last 
Sunday  morning  stirred  me  up  wonderfully. 
Yes,  I  will  be  there,  if  nothing  happens  to  pre- 
vent." 

"  Good !  Good  !  Well,  good-morning  1  I  will 
look  for  you." 

"  You  may,"  Thaddeus  added,  earnestly. 
"  But  say !"  he  called,  as  Mr.  Outwright  was 
closing  the  door,  after  he  passed  out. 

"  Well?"  he  asked,  peeping  through  the  door, 
as  he  held  it  ajar. 

"  I  suppose  you  will  not  object  if  I  bring 
somebody  with  me?" 

"  Not  I !     Do  bring  somebody  ;  bring  two  !" 

"  That  I  will,"  Thaddeus  called  to  him  as  he 


THE  PRAYER-MEETING.  203 

closed  the  door.  And  so  he  did,  though  no  one 
could  have  guessed  who  the  two  would  be. 
Thaddeus  intended  to  call  for  Miss  Josie,  never 
doubting  her  certain  acceptance  of  his  in- 
vitation. 

Mr.  Outwright  was  so  pleased  over  his  suc- 
cess so  far  that  he  was  just  in  the  mood  to  push 
his  work  to  the  utmost.  With  this  thought  in 
mind,  he  entered  Mr.  Christie's  drugstore  to 
make  a  trifling  purchase,  and  was  waited  on  by 
Mr.  Christie  himself.  As  no  one  was  present 
besides  the  two,  Mr.  Outwright  said,  with  a 
peculiar  sidelong  glance  of  mingled  hope  and 
fear,  brightened  by  a  smile  of  kindliness  that 
always  foiled  resentment : 

"  Mr.  Christie,  there  is  one  place  in  Bramble- 
ville  you  do  not  know  much  about" 

"Well,  yes— ha!  ha! — Mr.  Outwright— ha  ! 
ha  ! — I  am  quite  sure — O !  ah  ! — ha !  ha ! — there 
are  many  places  in  Brambleville — ah  ! — that  I 
do  n't  know  much  about — ha  !  ha  ! — but — O  ! 
ah  ! — ha  !  ha  ! — I  can  not  guess  which  one — O  ! 
ha  !  ha ! — you  refer  to  now." 

"I  mean  prayer-meeting." 

"Well,  that  is  a  good  one,  of  course.  O! 
ha!  ha!  I  don't  know  much  about  that  place — 
ha  !  ha ! — but,  Mr.  Outwright,  my  mother — O  ! 
ha!  ha! — my  mother — ha!  ha! — 'tends  to  that 
for  us  both.  Ha  !  ha !" 


204  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"Yes,  your  mother  comes  regularly.  That 
is  why  I  think  you  ought  to  come  occasionally. 
Come  to-night,  just  to  please  me — and  your 
mother." 

"  I — ah  ! — ha  !  ha ! — well,  I — I — perhaps — 
ha !  ha ! — I  will,  just  to  please  you — ha  !  ha ! — 
and — my  mother." 

"Thank  you!  I  will  look  for  you.  Good- 
day  !"  and  the  minister  was  gone,  seeking  some 
other  person  to  invite  to  prayer-meeting. 

His  work  in  that  direction  was  abundantly 
successful,  as  the  attendance  that  night  demon- 
strated. 

There  was  no  doubt  in  Thaddeus's  mind 
that  Miss  Josie  would  go  with  him  to  prayer- 
meeting  if  he  should  ask  her,  and  he  intended 
to  ask  her  before  he  went  home  for  dinner. 
With  this  thought  in  view  he  turned  to  his 
work  with  enthusiasm,  after  the  minister  left, 
and  put  so  much  vigor  and  push  into  his  labor 
that  he  soon  saw  a  mass  of  "  copy  "  pile  up  on 
his  desk,  and  found  himself  at  liberty  to  make 
an  informal  call  at  Judge  Tracy's  an  hour  or 
more  before  noon. 

Messenger-boys  in  Brambleville  were  not 
regularly  employed  as  such,  but  were  picked  up 
here  and  there  from  among  the  unengaged, 
wherever  the  patron  could  find  one  willing  to 
perform  the  service  required.  It  was  such  a 


THE  PRAYER-MEETTttG,  205 

one  as  this  that  Thaddens  saw  coming  out  of 
the  gate  at  Judge  Tracy's  as  he  approached. 
They  passed  a  short  distance  from  the  entrance 
to  the  judge's  home,  and  when  Thaddeus  was 
about  to  open  the  gate,  he  saw  at  his  feet  a 
sealed  note.  He  picked  it  up,  glanced  at  the 
address,  recognized  the  handwriting,' and  for  a 
moment  was  transfixed  with  astonishment  and 
filled  with  intensest  indignation ;  for  in  the  well- 
known,  almost  perfect,  and  smoothly-flowing 
chirography  of  Miss  Josie's  pen,  was  the  name 
of  Wendell  Morrison.  A  moment  only  he 
hesitated ;  a  moment  only  was  he  indignant ;  a 
moment  only  did  he  give  place  to  wrathful 
thoughts, — the  next,  he  was  calm,  tolerant,  and 
decided.  Hurrying  after  the  boy,  he  delivered 
the  note  to  him ;  rebuked  him  gently  for  his 
carelessness ;  and  told  him  when  he  had  given 
the  message  to  Mr.  Morrison,  to  come  to  his 
office  for  another,  to  be  taken  to  Mrs.  Jessup's. 
Would  he  ? 

"'Course/'  he  answered  briefly;  for  he  was 
concerned  in  something  more  important  than 
carrying  notes,  though  that  was  desirable  work 
just  then,  as  he  was  endeavoring  to  save  up 
money  enough  to  go  to  the  next  show,  already 
advertised  to  appear  in  Brambleville ;  and  at 
once  the  barefooted  and  frowsy-headed  volun- 
teer messenger-boy  commenced  to  ply  the  young 


• 

206  AN  ODD  FELLOW.     . 

editor  with  questions,  and  to  flood  him  with  in- 
formation gained  from  his  street  companions, 
winding  up,  as  they  reached  the  Banner  office, 
with  a  pointed  question  : 

"  Say,  now,  ef  I  'd  carry  notes  for  yo'  ev'ry 
day  an'  ev'ry.  day,  would  yo'  give  me  tick's  to 
ev'ry  blamed  show  thet  cums  'long?  'Cause 
the  boys  all  say  you  gits  comp's  to  ev'rything, 
an'  /never  see  yo'  ter  nun  uv  'em." 

"I  do  not  have  many  notes  to  carry,"  Thad- 
deus  said,  laughing ;  "  and  I  am  afraid  tickets 
to  shows  will  not  be  good  for  you." 

As  he  spoke,  he  put  his  hand  on  the  boy's 
head,  and  turned  his  face  upward  toward  his 
own.  The  happy  expression  faded  from  the 
fair  face,  and  the  blue  eyes  took  on  a  deeper 
hue,  as  a  sense  of  disappointment  filled  the 
childish  heart.  With  an  effort  to  be  calm,  ac- 
companied by  a  perceptible  swallowing  of  grief, 
the  boy  stood  for  a  second  like  a  statue.  Thad- 
deus's  heart  was  touched.  Thinking  rapidly 
what  to  say  or  do,  his  face  brightened,  and  the 
sunshine  of  his  heart  fell  upon  the  soul  of  the 
child,  and  made  his  eyes  shine  like  a  June  sky. 
He  said: 

"After  you  take  my  note,  I  will  pay  you,  and 
will  give  you  a  ticket  to  a  concert  at  the  church 
next  week,  if  you  will  go  to  a  Church  enter- 
tainment** 


THE  PRAYER-MEETING.  207 

"Golly!     Will  I  go?     I '11  go!" 

Away  he  ran,  or  rather  jumped ;  for  his  feet 
scarcely  touched  the  pavement  as  he  bounded 
like  a  rubber-ball  along  the  street.  Watching 
him,  Thaddeus  forgot  for  a  moment  his  own 
disappointment,  and  stood,  smiling  after  him, 
one  foot  on  the  pavement,  the  other  on  the  first 
step  of  the  stairs  he  was  about  to  mount  to 
reach  his  office.  He  was  living  over  the  years 
of  his  own  happy  childhood,  and  wishing  all 
boys  might  have  such  a  home  as  his,  when  Seth 
Russell  touched  his  arm,  having  come  to  his  side 
noiselessly. 

"Say!"  the  old  man  said,  pointing  toward 
the  boy,  just  disappearing  in  the  stairway  lead- 
ing up  to  Morrison's  office,  "whatever  you  do 
for  that  boy  will  bring  blessings  on  your  head. 
Did  you  see  his  eyes?  They  are  his  mother's — 
a  piece  of  heaven's  own  blue.  Did  you  notice 
his  head?  It  is  his  father's,  and  a  skillfuller 
mechanic  never  lived  than  him.  Knew  'em 
both.  Both  are  in  God's  home,  they  say;  but  / 
reckon  both  of  'em  are  right  nigh  him  that  is 
kind  to  their  Joseph.  But,  say,  Thad,  my  poor, 
dear  boy,  son  of  my  best  friend,  old  Seth's 
heart  aches  for  you!  You  are  to  be  tried  as  by 
fire.  Never  flinch !  Be  true  to  yourself,  and  to 
the  right,  and  to  those  who  love  you.  *L,ove 
with  a  pure  heart,  fervently.'  First,  let  love  be 


208  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

pure ;  then,  fervent.  Good-bye !  Old  Seth 
has  eyes  and  ears  open  for  those  he  loves. 
Good-bye !" 

Thaddeus  mounted  the  stairs  two  steps  at 
once,  saying,  as  he  did  so:  "He  is  an  odd  fel- 
low, and  no  mistake." 

There  were  two  happy  hearts  at  prayer- 
meeting  that  night:  The  pastor's,  because  his 
invitations  had  so  generally  been  accepted ;  Mrs. 
Christie's,  because  her  son  had  voluntarily  ac- 
companied her  to  the  service. 

There  were  two  sadly-disturbed  souls  at 
prayer-meeting  that  night :  Miss  Josie  Tracy's, 
because  she  was  there  with  Wendell  Morrison 
and  Thaddeus  was  with  Jennie  Jessup ;  and 
Thaddeus  Throckmorton's,  because  of  the  same 
unexpected  groupings. 

Such  an  assemblage,  in  its  heterogeneous- 
ness,  never  before  had  appeared  in  that  church, 
and  never  afterward.  Paths  met  there,  crossed, 
separated,  diverged,  and  never  again  on  earth 
escaped  the  controlling  influence  of  that  brief 
hour  and  a  half  in  the  house  of  God. 

Whose  hand  brought  them  there?  Whose 
will  sent  them  away  with  new  and  strange 
thoughts?  Who  put  fire  into  the  heart  of  the 
pastor  that  night,  and  power  into  his  words? 
Who  dropped  the  lead  into  the  religious  life  of 
one,  showing  how  shallow  it  was,  because  it  ran 


THE  PRAYER-MEETING.  209 

over  the  shoal  of  selfishness ;  and  who  sounded 
the  life  of  another,  revealing  its  great  depths, 
because  God's  providences  had  every  day  broken 
up  and  carried  away  the  hidden  rocks  of  selfish 
desire?  Who,  in  one  hour,  severed  bonds,  like 
cords  of  tow,  that  were  thought  to  be  bands  of 
iron?  Who  melted,  and  ran  into  one  mold, 
hearts  that  had,  until  then,  been  singularly  an- 
tagonistic? Who,  but  the  One  who  works  out 
his  own  designs,  whether  men  assist  or  resist? 

As  Thaddeus  walked  home  in  deep  medita- 
tion, after  leaving  Miss  Jennie  Jessup  and  her 
mother  at  their  door,  he  met  Seth  Russell  at  the 
corner. 

"I  was  waiting  for  you,  Thad,  son  of  my  best 
beloved  friend.  'God  is  love,'  and  all  he  does 
is  for  the  good  of  those  who  trust  him.  I  see 
he  has  set  your  feet  in  the  path  that  leads  to 
happiness,  renown,  and  wealth.  Follow  his 
leadings,  though  it  break  your  heart.  Remem- 
ber, '  He  healeth  the  broken  in  heart,  and  bind- 
eth  up  their  wounds.'  You  are  broken-hearted 
and  wounded  to-night,  sou  of  my  best  beloved 
friend.  I  know.  I  saw  you.  Good-night!" 

The  aged  but  lithe  form  disappeared  down 
the  street,  the  white  hair  and  whiter  beard  blow- 
ing about  his  head  and  face,  like  finest  silk,  in 
the  breeze  of  that  summer  night. 


XIX. 

EXPLANATIONS. 

TTTHE  next  morning,  while  Jennie  Jessup  was 
•£-  engaged  in  her  piano  practice,  her  mother 
came  in,  and,  sitting  down  with  broom  in  hand 
and  sweeping-cap  on,  said,  with  emphasis  and 
an  air  of  deep  concern : 

"Do  stop  a  minute  or  two,  Jennie,  and  let 
me  know  what  you  think.  I  have  my  own 
thoughts,  but  they  may  not  be  right." 

Jennie  did  not  stop  at  once,  but  touched  the 
keys  very  softly  while  her  mother  was  speaking, 
and  then  went  on  to  the  end  of  the  score  she 
was  playing ;  but  at  the  same  time  answered 
her  mother : 

"One,  two,  three,  four — about  what,  mother? 
One  and  two,  and  three  and  four,  and — in  a  min- 
ute, mother.  One,  and  a  two,  and  a  three,  and 
a  tour,  and  a — just  as  soon  as  I  get  this  right 
once.  One  and  two,  and  three  and  four.  There ! 
Now,  what,  mother?"  she  said,  turning  round  on 
the  stool  to  face  Mrs.  Jessup. 

"Well,  about  prayer-meeting  last  night.  I 
was' never  so  wrought  up  in  my  life,"  the  mother 
said,  sweeping  away  imaginary  dust  from  about 
her  chair. 

210 


*•  Now,  what,  mother?"  she  said,  turning  round  on  the 
stool  to  face  Mrs.  Jessup.— Page  210. 


EX  PLAN  A  T1ONS.  2 1 1 

"It  was  good,"  Jennie  said,  folding  her  arms, 
and  dropping  her  head  meditatively. 

"  I  suppose  it  was ;  but  that  is  not  what  I 
mean.  I  mean  the  people  who  were  there." 

"There  was  a  large  attendance;  but,  then, 
Mr.  Outwright  knows  how  to  get  people  out  I 
think  it  is  his — " 

"I  do  not  mean  the  many,  but  the  kind  of 
people  who  were  there,  and  the  way  they  were 
there." 

"O  !"  Jennie  said,  in  surprise,  lifting  her  eyes 
to  her  mother's. 

"Did  n't  you  notice  it?" 

"Why — not  particularly." 

"You  didn't?  I  did.  Now,  there  was  your 
cousin  Wendell.  Nothing  has  happened  in  a 
dozen  years  to  surprise  me  like  that,  except  his 
temperance  speech  that  time.  Do  you  know 
how  he  happened  to  come  ?" 

"Mr.  Outwright,  I  suppose." 

"Or,  Josie  Tracy?"  Mrs,  Jessup  added;  and, 
for  a  few  minutes,  mother  and  daughter  were 
silent. 

"But  another  thing,  Jennie,  puzzled  me. 
How  did  it  happen  that  Thaddeus  came  by  for 
you?  Now,  if  it  had  been  anybody  else  I  should 
have  thought  nothing  of  it." 

"Why  should  you  anyway,  mother?  Thad- 
deus used  to  come  by  for  me  very  often." 


212  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"But  that  was  a  long,  long  time  ago." 

"Not  so  very.  We  were  in  the  same  classes 
in  school,  you  know." 

"And,  then,  there  was  Charlie  Christie  at 
prayer- meeting.  I  am  expecting  the  millen- 
nium right  away  now,  when  such  a  dry  stick  as 
Charlie  gets  to  coming  to  Church,  and  such  a 
hard  case  as  Wendell  is  at  prayer-meeting." 

"  Mother,  I  do  believe  you  did  not  hear  one 
word  the  pastor  said,"  Jennie  replied,  laughing 
gayly.  "  You  were  absorbed  in  the  people." 

"Yes,  I  heard  what  he  said,  right  enough; 
but  I  was  worked  up  by  what  I  saw." 

MWell,  I  thought  it  was  a  splendid  meeting, 
and  did  not  pay  much  attention  to  the  people 
who  were  present." 

"  Except  to  one,"  Mrs.  Jessup  said,  signifi- 
cantly. 

"What  one  was  that?"  Jennie  asked,  inno- 
cently, turning  to  the  piano  to  put  another  piece 
of  music  on  the  rack. 

"Thaddeus." 

"  Not  much  to  him,  either,"  she  replied,  and 
turned  about  to  face  her  mother,  showing  just  a 
little  uneasiness  at  being  detained  longer  from 
her  practice. 

"  But  tell  me,  Jennie,"  Mrs.  Jessup  said, 
sighing  softly,  and  thumping  the  floor  with  the 
broom,  not  caring  to  lift  her  face  to  her  daugh- 


EXPLANATIONS.  213 

ter's,  "  are  you  not  afraid  to  have  Thaddens 
come  back  to  you?  Do  you  not  remember  how 
hard  it  was  to  be  reconciled  to  his  going  away 
before  ?" 

"  Mother,"  Jennie  said,  impulsively  and  with 
much  feeling,  though  she  strove  to  be  calm,  "  I 
was  young  and  thoughtless  then.  I  hope  a  ma- 
ture mind  is  more  to  be  trusted  than  a  giddy 
girl's." 

"  It  is,  my  daughter,  it  is ;  but  the  heart  is 
seldom  ever  guided  by  the  judgment." 

"  If  you  feel  that  way,"  Jennie  said,  submiss- 
ively, after  a  few  minutes'  reflection,  "  when  he 
comes  to-night  I  will  tell  him  plainly  what  you 
think,  and  ask  him  not  to  call  any  more." 

"'When  he  comes  to-night!'  Is  he  coming 
to-night?"  Mrs.  Jessup,  exclaimed,  excitedly. 
u  I  am  sorry,"  she  added,  in  a  quieter  tone,  re- 
suming her  manner  of  sorrowful  concern.  "  I 
am  very  sorry.  For  several  reasons  I  am  sorry, 
and  almost  as  much  on  his  account  as  on  yours." 

"What  can  you  mean,  mother?  You  are 
taking  the  matter  all  too  seriously.  Thaddeus 
has  called  once  or  twice,  and  has  gone  to  Church 
with  me  once,  and  is  to  call  again.  Surely  all 
that  is  very  little ;  but  you  speak  as  though  we 
were  engaged,  or  about  to  be." 

"  There  are  some  things  I  know  that  you  do 
not,  my  daughter,  and  I  can  not  tell  you  now. 


214  AM  ODD  FET.LOW. 

I  was  glad  when  he  quit  coming,  though  it  did 
so  nearly  break  your  heart,  and  I  can  not  but  be 
sorry  to  have  even  the  appearance  of  a  renewal 
of  his  visits.  Will  you  let  me  influence  you  in 
this,  without  giving  my  reasons  ?" 

"  Mother,"  Jennie  said,  kindly,  but  firmly. 
"  I  am  not  now  the  girl  I  was  then.  Then  I 
yielded  to  your  wishes ;  but  now  I  feel  that  I 
have  rights  that  I  must  not  surrender  even  to 
you.  I  can  not  retain  my  self-respect  and  do 
that  If  you  will  give  me  one  good  reason  why 
I  ought  not  to  receive  calls  or  any  attention 
from  Thaddeus,  I  will  gladly  do  as  you  say — lor 
a  good  reason." 

Mrs.  Jessup  did  not  reply  at  once.  She  was 
undecided  what  course  to  take  for  awhile;  but 
finally  determined  to  make  a  bold  stand,  and 
said: 

"There  is  very  serious  doubt  as  to  who  his 
parents  are!" 

"  But  I  thought — "  Jennie  said,  in  surprise 
and  alarm. 

"  Yes,  I  know  what  you  think ;  but  I  can  not 
tell  you  any  more  now." 

"  But  why  did  you  not  tell  me  this  before?" 

"  See  how  it  distresses  you  now.  Could  you 
have  received  it  with  less  remorse  when  you 
were  in  love  with  him  as  a  'giddy  girl,'  to  use 
your  own  words?" 


EX  PL  AN  A  TIONS.  2 1 5 

"  But  is  there  any  disgrace  in  not  knowing 
your  ancestry  ?" 

"  By  no  means ;  but  the  ancestry,  if  knowu, 
might  be  a  disgrace !" 

"  And  might  be  a  great  honor !" 

"  Possibly ;  but  not  in  this  case." 

"  Then  you  know." 

"  I  have  my  suspicions." 

"  What  are  they  ?" 

"  I  can  not  tell  you  now.  Sometime  I  may. 
But  have  I  not  given  you  a  good  reason  for  dis- 
carding his  attentions?" 

"No,  mother!" 

"  I  am  sorry,  very  sorry,  my  daughter.  You 
take  your  own  risks." 

Mrs.  Jessup  arose  and  went  about  her  work, 
leaving  Jennie  with  her  music;  but  the  hour 
slipped  by  without  a  sound  from  the  instru- 
ment, for  the  player  was  in  no  mood  to  invoke 
sweet  harmonies  and  rich  melodies  from  its 
vibrating  cords.  Memories  of  other  years  swept 
over  her  soul  like  a  flood,  and  she  felt  the  touch 
of  thoughts  and  hopes  she  had  believed  were 
forever  dead. 

Thaddeus  lost  no  time  that  same  morning  in 
calling  on  Miss  Josie,  determined  to  undo,  as 
far  as  he  could,  the  wrong  of  the  past  few  days, 
and  to  set  himself  right  in  her  mind.  He  was 
heartily  tired  of  deception,  even  in  the  way  of 


2 1 6  AN  ODD  FELLO  W. 

practical  joking.  He  was  sure,  very  sure,  he 
was  not  prompted  by  a  spirit  of  jealousy. 

"  Pardon  this  call  at  such  an  unseasonable, 
if  not  unreasonable,  hour,"  he  said,  rising  to 
greet  Miss  Josie  as  she  cauie  into  the  parlor. 

In  reply  she  smiled  faintly,  extended  her 
hand,  and,  as  she  sank  into  a  chair,  said :  "  An 
early  call  is  better  than  none ;"  and  so  saying 
echoed  the  sentiment  of  her  heart. 

"  Thank  you,  Josie ;  that  is  better  than  I  de- 
serve. But,  believe  me,  I  did  not  stay  away 
because  I  wanted  to.  I  thought — perhaps  you 
did  n't  care." 

"  Did  you,  indeed  ?"  she  said,  with  arching 
brows. 

"  Indeed  I  did ;  but  I  have  come  this  morn- 
ing to  say  I  am  sorry  if  I  have  given  you  pain 
for  even  an  hour.  Will  you  forgive  me  ?" 

"  I  will,"  she  said  calmly,  so  far  as  her  voice 
was  concerned ;  but  she  straightened  herself  in 
the  chair,  clasped  her  hands  tightly,  and  let 
them  fall  heavily  on  her  lap,  and  Thaddeus  no- 
ticed a  constrained  look  of  peace  on  her  face. 
Quickly  she  added :  "  I  will  on  one  condition." 

"What's  that?  That  I  shall  never  do  so 
again?  That's  easy!  I  promise  that  with  all 
my  heart,"  he  said,  eagerly. 

Josie  was  disconcerted  for  a  moment  by  his 


EXPLANATIONS.  217 

eagerness;  but  with  a  forced  smile  and  uncer- 
tain voice  she  said : 

"  Not  that — but  easier — perhaps.  That  you 
let  me  have  time  to  work  out  a  cherished  hope — 
something  I  have  prayed  over  very  earnestly, 
and  feel  to  be  a  duty ;  though,  in  some  respects, 
an  unpleasant  one." 

"Certainly!"  Thaddeus  replied,  earnestly. 
Rising,  and  walking  over  to  Josie's  chair,  he 
stopped  right  before  her,  and  was  about  to  take 
her  hand  when  she  put  them  out  of  his  reach, 
and  said: 

"  Wait !  What  would  you  do  to  save  a  soul, 
Thaddeus?" 

"  Your  soul,  Josie  ?  Anything  in  my  power ! 
I  should  limit  myself  in  no  way.  I  would  make 
any  sacrifice;  endure  any  affliction  !" 

"  Would  you  ?  I  believe  you  would  !  But  I 
did  not  put  the  question  right  What  do  you 
think  /ought  to  do  to  save  a  soul?" 

Thaddeus  was  silent,  and  tried  to  read  the 
eyes  bent  so  earnestly  and  heroically  on  him. 
But  in  their  clear  depths  he  saw  no  clue  to 
Josie's  meaning,  and  he  was  obliged  to  say : 

"  A  soul  is  worth  much,  Josie ;  even  a  world 
is  nothing  in  comparison.  I  can  not  answer 
that  question  for  you.  You  must  answer  it  for 
yourself." 


2 1 8  AN  ODD  FELLO  W. 

"  So  I  know ;  so  I  have  done ;  my  mind  is 
made  up.  But  will  you  help  ine  ?" 

"  I  will,  most  faithfully  and  earnestly.  What 
would  you  have  me  do  ?" 

"  Leave  me  to  myself  awhile — until  I  bid  you 
come  again*" 

"Josie!"  he  exclaimed  in  distress. 

"  It  has  cost  me  a  fearful  struggle ;  but  I 
have  gained  the  victory." 

"Josie,  you  are  beside  yourself!  I  can  not 
believe  you  know  what  you  say !" 

"  I  am  not  beside  myself!  I  know  perfectly 
well  what  I  am  saying." 

"Then  will  you  tell  me  all  the  particulars  of 
this  sudden  and  very  strange  determination." 

"I  will.  You  were  at  prayer-meeting  last 
night?" 

"Yes." 

"You  saw  me  there  with — with — Wendell?" 

"I  am  sorry  to  say,  I  did." 

"I  knew  you  would  be.  But  except  for  me, 
Wendell  would  not  have  gone.  He  said  so  ;  and 
he  was  much  interested,  and  told  me  he  would 
go  often — if  I  would  go  with  hi  in." 

"  The  knave !" 

"How  could  you!  Remember  you  have 
promised  me  to  help!  After  we  came  home  last 
night  he  signed  the  temperance  pledge.  I  wrote 
it  here  with  my  own  hand,  and  he  signed  it" 


EXPLANATIONS,  2 19 

''And  you  believe  he  will  keep  it?" 

"Yes;  for  he  left  it  with  me,  and  made  me 
write  another  and  sign  it  myself  and  give  it  to 
him  to  keep.  He  said  whenever  he  should  look 
at  my  pledge  he  would  think  of  me  and  his 
pledge  !" 

"What  else  did  you  pledge?"  Thaddeus 
asked,  in  such  cold  and  deliberate  tones  that 
Josie  was  startled. 

"Nothing;  except  that  I  said  I  would  go 
with  him  to  Church  Sunday  night.  I  do  so 
want  him  to  hear  one  of  Mr.  Outwright's 
sermons," 

"Good-bye!" 

Before  she  could  utter  one  word  of  protest 
he  was  gone. 

She  shuddered  at  the  thought  of  what  he 
must  suffer;  but  consoled  herself  with  the  re- 
flection that  she  was  sacrificing  her  happiness 
and  his  for  the  uplifting  of  an  immortal  soul. 

"If  need  be,"  she  said  aloud,  when  she  had 
returned  to  her  room,  "  if  need  be,  I  believe  I 
could  actually  marry  Wendell  to  save  him  from 
ruin!  Thaddeus,  my  darling,  you  do  not  need 
any  help.  You  are  strong  in  yourself,  while 
Wendell  is  weak  at  one  point,  though  strong 
everywhere  else.  He  says  I  am  'a  tower  of 
strength  to  him  1' " 


XX 

MR.  CHARLES  CHRISTIE. 

"TV  /flSS  EDITH,  you  can  scarcely  guess— 
•*•  \--*-  ha!  ha! — how  many  people  have  called 
to-day — ha!  ha! — to  say  how  surprised,  or — ah! 
— how  delighted,  if  you  will — ha!  ha! — excuse 
the  term,  to  see  me  at  prayer-meeting  last 
night!  And — ha!  ha! — I  was  quite  surprised 
myself — ha!  ha! — and  delighted,  of  course — ha! 
ha! — to  find  myself  there!  I  hope — O!  ah!— 
Miss  Edith,  you  were  not  wholly  displeased 
yourself — iia!  ha! — to  know  that  I  can  go  to 
prayer-meeting  occasionally — ha!  ha! — when  a 
sufficient  reason  is  given — ha !  ha !  Do  I  pre- 
sume— ha!  ha! — Miss  Edith,  on  your  interest 
in  the  meeting,  or — ah ! — in  me,  to  suppose  you 
were  pleased." 

"By  no  means,  Mr.  Christie!  I  was  really 
glad  to  see  you  there — for  your  sake  as  well  as 
the  meeting's." 

"Ah!  thank  you." 

"I  was  glad  to  see  you  so  interested  in  the 
services,  Mr.  Christie,  especially  in  the  singing." 

"How  could  I  fail — ha!  ha! — Miss  Edith,  to 
be  interested  in  singing — ha!  ha! — when — Ol 


MR.  CHRISTIE.  221 

ah! — you  contributed  so  largely — ha!  ha! — to 
its  excellence.  What  would  they  do,  Miss 
Edith,  without  your  voice? — ha!  ha!  I  distin- 
guished that — ha!  ha! — in  the  midst  of  all  the 
others  I" 

"Thank  yon,  Mr.  Christie;  but  I  am  sure 
you  give  me  too  much  praise.  Did  you  not 
notice  how  Miss  Jessup  and  cousin  Josie  sang? 
What  a  beautiful  alto  Miss  Jessup's  is!" 

"I  did  not  notice  it — O!  ah! — of  course,  I 
know,  in  a  general  way — ha!  ha! — Miss  Jessup's 
voice  is  fine ;  but — ha !  ha ! — not  to  be  men- 
tioned— ha!  ha! — if  you  will  pardon  me,  at  the 
same  time — O!  ah! — with  your  own." 

"But  is  not  Mr.  Outwright  splendid?" 

"In  what  way,  Miss  Edith?  I  am  not — ha! 
ha! — very  familiar  with  points  of  excellence — 
ha !  ha ! — in  clergymen.  Now,  if  it  was — O ! 
ah  ! — spiritus  frumenti  or  morphia,  or  something 
like  that — ha!  ha! — I  would  know." 

"Or  horses,  Mr.  Christie!" 

"Spare  me,  Miss  Edith!  I  am  not — ha! 
ha! — doting  on  horses  at  present — ha!  ha! — 
Miss  Edith;  for — O!  ah! — you  know,  yourself, 
my  feelings  on  that  subject." 

"Yes;  I  know  what  were  your  feelings  when 
I  helped  your  mother  nurse  you  through  your 
hurts  and  breaks." 

"Do    you    really  —  ha!     ha!  —  Miss    Edith, 


222  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

know — ha!  ha!  —  my  feelings — O!  ah! — when 
you  were  so  kind  as  to  help  me  through — ha! 
ha! — those  long,  dreary  hours?" 

"And  were  they  dreary,  after  all?  You  have 
told  me  several  times  they  were  not ;  that  you 
did  not  mind  being  shut  in !" 

"Did  I,  truly,  Miss  Edith?  O!  ah!— then— 
ha!  ha! — I  must  reaffirm  my  declaration.  It  was 
dreary  at  times  ;  but — ha !  ha ! — of  course,  you 
could  not  have  known  that — ha!  ha! — for — O! 
ah ! — you  were  not  there  at  such  times." 

"Do  you  not  drive  any  more  at  all,  Mr. 
Christie?  I  am  very  fond  of  driving.  I  can  not 
get  papa  to  go  with  me  nearly  so  often  as  I 
would  like." 

"No,  Miss  Edith — ha!  ha! — I  have  disposed 
of  my  horse.  The  carriage,  you  know — ha! 
ha! — was  quite  effectually — ha!  ha! — disposed 
of  at  the  time  of  the  mishap.  But  perhaps  I 
will — O!  ah! — find  a  gentler  horse,  and  then— 
ha !  ha ! — but  O,  by  the  way,  Miss  Edith,  if  you 
feel  perfectly  safe  in  driving,  and  only  lack  com- 
pany, and — ha!  ha! — if  Mr.  Lysander  can  not 
take  time  from  his  office  to  go  with  you — ha! 
ha! — I  should  be  happy — ha!  ha! — to  have 
you — O!  ah! — accept  me  as  a  substitute — ha! 
ha! — a  very  inadequate  one,  I  am  sure,  but  bet- 
ter than  none — ha!  ha! — if  I  may  be  so  pre- 
sumptuous as  to  say  so — ha!  ha!" 


MR.  CHRISTIE,  223 

"O,  I  am  a  splendid  driver,  Mr.  Christie!  I 
really  believe  if  I  had  been  with  you  that  time 
your  accident  happened,  I  could  have  pre- 
vented it." 

"  Do  you,  truly  ?  Then  I  am  very  sorry  I 
did  not — O  !  ah  ! — have  the  pleasure  of  your 
company." 

u  But  if  you  had  n't  been  hurt,  I  would  not 
have  been  called  to  nurse  you,  and  would  never 
have  learned  what  I  did  about  drugs  and  drug- 
gists' supplies,  and  would  never  have  learned  so 
many  awfully  hard  names,  and — " 

"  O !  ah  !  Miss  Edith,  I  should  have  been 
only  too  happy  to  teach  you  all  that  without 
being  laid  up  for  six  weeks.  Ha !  ha !  I  am 
sure  I  could  teach  you  now — ha !  ha ! — much 
better  than  when  suffering  so  much  from  bruises 
and  cuts — ha !  ha  ! — if  you  care  to  learn." 

"  O,  I  only  learned  then  to  please  you  !  I  was 
to  entertain  you,  you  know ;  and  when  I  saw  it 
pleased  you  to  have  me  learn,  I  did  it." 

"But  it  would — ha!  ha! — please  me  now  to 
have  you  go  right  on  learning.  Ha!  ha!" 

"  But  you  are  not  sick  now,  Mr.  Christie,  and 
do  not  need  to  be  humored." 

"  I  am  never — O  !  ah  ! — very  well,  Miss 
Edith— ha!  ha!— and—  " 

"Have  you  thought  of  consulting  a  physician, 
Mr.  Christie?  Think  of  your  mother!  What 


224  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

if  you  should  die,  and  leave  her  alone  in  the 
world  ?" 

"I  do  think  of  that,  Miss  Edith;  and— O ! 
ah ! — I  often  think  of  myself,  if  she  should  die, 
and  leave  me  alone  in  the  world.  That  would 
be  worse,  you  must — O  !  ah  ! — allow,  Miss 
Edith." 

"That  would  be  awful!  What  would  you 
do,  Mr.  Christie,  if  that  should  happen?  Your 
mother  has  been  with  you  so  long,  you  would 
surely  miss  her  greatly." 

"Not  so  very  long — ha!  ha! — Miss  Edith; 
but  I  would  miss  her  greatly.  Ha !  ha  1  I  get 
very  miserable  sometimes,  Miss  Edith,  thinking 
about  losing  her,  and — " 

"  Mr.  Christie  !  I  never  supposed  you  were 
miserable  a  day  in  your  life.  You  are  always 
so  cheerful  and  full  of  humor,  always  laughing, 
and—" 

"Ah!  Miss  Edith,  you  do  not  know — ha! 
ha! — how  many  miserable  days  I  have  put  in 
since  that  accident  Before  that  time — ha !  ha ! — 
I  was  tolerably  contented — ha  !  ha ! — but  since 
then,  somehow,  I  have  lost  interest  in — O!  ah!— 
nearly  everything,  and  time  hangs  heavy — ha ! 
ha ! — on  my  hands.  Now,  do  you  suppose 
you—" 

"Let  me  sing  you  a  song  I  learned  to-day. 
That  may  cheer  you," 


MR.  CHRISTIE.  225 

"Thanks!     Do!" 

"It  is  'The  Song  that  Reached  my  Heart.' 
Do  you  know  it?" 

"No,  I  do  not.  Perhaps  it  will  reach  mine, 
too.  Ha !  ha !  Indeed,  of  that— O  !  ah  !— I  am 
quite  certain,  if  you  sing  as  you  did  last  night." 

"Do  you  know  'Marguerite,'  Mr.  Christie?" 

"Marguerite  who?  That  is  not  your  friend's 
name  who  was  here  from  Kentucky?" 

"O  no!  It  is  the  name  of  a  very  popular 
song." 

"O!  ah!  I  see!  Ha!  ha!  No,  I  do  not 
know  'Marguerite.'  " 

"Shall  I  sing  it  for  you,  too?" 

"I  should  be  too  happy,  Miss  Edith.  Ha!  ha! 
Shall  I  turn  the  music  for  you?  Is  the  light — 
O!  ah!— just  right,  Miss  Edith?  Ah!  beg  par- 
don! Let  me  adjust  the  stool  for  you.  It  was 
quite  careless  in  me — ha !  ha  ! — not  to  offer  to 
do  that.  Is  that  quite  as  you  would  have  it? 
Ha!  ha!" 

"Thank  you!     You  are  very  kind." 

"But  Miss  Edith — O!  ah! — you  can  hardly 
guess — ha !  ha  ! — what  pleasure  it  is  to  be  kind 
to— O!  ah!— to— ha!  ha  !— to  your 

"  Hold  on,  Mr.  Christie  !  I  have  n't  played 
half  of  the  prelude  yet.  You  read  music,  do 
you  not?" 

"Yes,  Miss  Edith — ha!  ha! — when  I  have 
15 


226  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

nothing  better — ha!  ha  ! — to  read;  but  just  now, 
I — O !  ah ! — find  it  hard  to  keep  my  inind  on 
the  notes.  Ha !  ha !  Your  pardon,  please ! 
Ha!  ha!" 

"  Do  not  mention  it !" 

"But,  Miss  Edith — O!  ah! — please  permit 
me  to  mention  something  else— ha!  ha! — that 
troubles  me  more  than — O  !  ah  ! — forgetting  to 
turn  the  music,  if  I  may  be  so  bold?" 

"Certainly,  and  you  shall  see  how  sympa- 
thetic a  friend  I  can  be !" 

"That  is  it,  Miss  Edith— O  !  ah!  Ha  !  ha  ! 
I  need  a  friend — ha  !  ha  ! — a  sympathetic  friend, 
and  I  hoped — ha !  ha ! — you  would  be  a  friend 
to  me  in  this  trouble.  Ha  !  ha  !" 

"Shall  I  sing  this  song  first?" 

"Just  as  you  please — ha!  ha! — but — O!  ah! — 
I  could  come  again  to  hear  the  songs,  if  I  may 
be— O !  ah !— so  bold !" 

"I  should  be  glad  to  have  you — come  again." 

"I  certainly  will,  if  I  may;  but,  as  I  was 
saying,  I — ha  !  ha  ! — do  not  feel  that  I  have 
ever — O  !  ah  ! — adequately  or  suitably  expressed 
my  gratitude  for  your  l.lnd  care  of  me — ah! — 
when  I  was  laid  up  by  that  accident" 

"  Please,  do  not  mention  it.     It  was  nothing." 

"But  I  must  mention  it,  Miss  Edith.  I  shall 
have  no  peace  until  I  do  mention  it  If  I 
thought  you  would  not  be  offended,  and  would 


MR.  CHRISTIE.  227 

accept  what  i  would  offer,  I  should — ha!  ha! — 
be  happy  to  show  you  how  truly,  truly,  I  appre- 
ciate your  kindness,  gentleness,  goodness,  help- 
fulness, and  even  sweetixw* — O!  ah! — if  I  may 
be  so  bold !" 

"  There !  there !  Mr.  Christie,  do  not  hunt  up 
any  more  adjectives!  If  it  vill  please  you,  I 
certainly  will  be  glad  to  accfc^t  any  slight  token 
of  your  appreciation." 

"  It  is  a  slight  token,  Miss  Edith ;  but  I  beg 
you  to  accept  it  It  will  make  me  very  happy 
to  know  you  do  accept  it,  Miss  Edith.  O!  ah! 
let  me  offer  you — begging  you  to  accept  the 
gift — let  me  offer  you — offer  you — my — my- 
self!" 

"Stand  up,  Mr.  Christie!  Do,  please,  stand 
up!  Quick!  Papa  is  coming  down  the  stairs!" 

"Ah,  Mr.  Christie!  My  wife  has  just  in- 
formed me  of  your  contemplated  call  to-night, 
and  I  ran  down  to  make  a  few  brief  inquiries 
concerning  the  present  status  of  the  political 
campaign,  and  the  apparent  possibilities  of  Mr. 
Morrison's  election  to  the  Legislature," 

"I  beg  pardon — ha!  ha! — Mr.  Lysander,  for 
not  answering  your  question — ha !  ha  ! — for  in 
the  present  state  of  my  mind — ha  !  ha ! — I  may 
not — O  !  ah  ! — give  a  clear  account — ha !  ha  !— 
of  the  outlook — ha !  ha ! — I  have  a  case  on  hand 
that  has  troubled  me  greatly  for  some  time,  and 


223  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

I  feel  that  I  must  call  on  you  for  counsel — per- 
haps for  pleadings." 

"Ah  !  I  am  at  your  service,  Mr.  Christie,  and 
will  take  your  case  in  hand  at  once,  if  you  desire." 

"I — O!  ah! — have  been  pleading — ha!  ha!— 
myself,  but — O  !  ah  ! — without  much  success. 
Ha!  ha!  You  will  remember,  Mr.  Lysander,  I 
have  your  consent — ha !  ha ! — but — O  !  ah  !— 
Miss  Edith — " 

"Ah!  that  case!  In  that  case,  Mr.  Christie, 
you  must  consider  me  as  retained  to  carry  the 
cause  to  a  higher  court ;  but  at  present  I  must 
leave  you  to  make  your  own  arguments.  Good- 
night !" 

"And  I,  Mr.  Christie,  must  ask  you  to  ex- 
cuse me — " 

"  And  do  you  reject  me  ?" 

"I  do  not" 

"Then  do  you  accept  me?" 

"I  do  not" 

"Must  I  go  without  an  answer?* 

"You  must     to-night" 

"And  may  I — O  !  ah  ! — may  I — may  I  come 
again  ?" 

"You  may!" 

"May  I  speak  to  Mr.  Lysander?" 

"Certainly;  I  will  send  him  down.  Good- 
night?" 

"  Good-night  r 


XXI. 

A  POLITICAL  SCHEME. 


"TJ 
-L4-     "Hello!" 

The  first  greeting  was  spoken  in  a  bright, 
energetic  manner,  which  betokened  interest  and 
hope,  as  Sam  Slimkins  threw  open  the  door  of 
Wendell  Morrison's  office. 

The  reply  was  uttered  in  a  careless  and  half- 
smothered  tone  that  indicated  extreme  indiffer- 
ence on  the  part  of  the  young  lawyer.  Una- 
bashed and  undaunted  by  the  coolness  of  his 
reception,  Slimkins  advanced  to  Wendell's  desk, 
and,  uninvited,  drew  up  a  chair,  and,  when 
seated,  slapped  the  attorney  on  the  knee,  and 
said: 

"I've  got  it!" 

"Well,  what  is  it  worth,  now  you  've  '  got  it  ?'  " 
Wendell  asked,  with  a  slight  frown  darkening  his 
eyes,  and  a  rasping  emphasis  jarring  his  words. 

"  It  is  worth  a  million  to  you  ;  but  how  much 
to  me,  I  have  n't  found  out  yet." 

"Slimkins,  did  you  ever  come  to  me  in  your 
life  without  the  thought  of  making  a  gain  out  of 
me  ?  I  'd  give  half  I  am  worth  for  a  friend  who 

16  229 


230  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

was  n't  a  friend  for  the  money  there  is  in  it — just 
for  one  hand's-turn  out  of  pure  friendship,  with 
no  thought  of  financial  reward.  I  am  sick  to 
death  of  bribes !" 

Wendell  spoke  vehemently,  and  punctuated 
his  words  with  terrible  oaths,  picking  up  and 
flinging  down  with  vengeance  the  various  ar- 
ticles on  his  desk  by  way  of  exclamation  points. 

"You've  made  your  own  bed,"  Sam  replied, 
with  imperturbable  calmness. 

For  a  reply  to  this  thrust,  Wendell  was  con- 
tent to  scowl  at  him  fiercely. 

"And  just  let  me  ask  you,"  Sam  went  on, 
after  a  moment's  silence,  "just  let  me  ask  you, 
when  did  you  ever  come  to  me  without  having 
a  scheme  or  a  dirty  job  you  wanted  me  to  work 
out  for  you  ?  A  nice  man  you  are  to  talk  about 
pure  friendship !" 

"  Shut  up !  Go  on  with  what  you  came  to 
tell  me,"  Wendell  said,  with  impatience,  as  he 
rearranged  the  papers  on  the  desk  he  had  a  mo- 
ment before  scattered  in  his  wrath. 

"Thad  is  dying  to  go  to  the  State  Senate." 

"Tell  me  something  I  don't  know." 

"O,  you  know  that,  do  you?"  Sam  said,  sar- 
castically. "Well,  if  you  know  all  about  it,  I 
need  n't  tell  you.  Good-day !" 

He  arose,  and  strode  toward  the  door. 

" Come  back !"  Wendell  said.    "Sit  down  here. 


A  POLITICAL  SCHEME.  231 

I  want  to  talk  to  you  about  other  matters.  What 
else  do  you  know?" 

By  this  time  his  manner  had  changed  en- 
tirely, and  his  voice  was  soft  and  smooth  as  a 
lover's,  and  his  bearing  as  gentle  as  a  woman's. 

"Well,  what  I  was  going  to  say,"  Sam  re- 
plied, resuming  his  chair,  "is,  that  you  must 
make  Thad  believe  you  do  not  want  to  go  to 
the  State  Senate,  but  would  like  to  have  the 
nomination  for  Congress." 

"But  I  do  want  to  go  to  the  State  Senate, 
and  there  is  no  chance  of  my  getting  the  con- 
gressional nomination." 

"Of  course,  you  want  to  go  to  the  State  Sen- 
ate, and  you  will  go  there,  too ;  but  if  Thad  be- 
lieves you  do  not  want  it,  he  will  announce 
himself  as  a  candidate,  and — " 

"And  get  the  nomination!" 

"Not  by  a  big  sight!" 

"What's  to  hinder,  if  I  am  out  of  the  way?" 

"Can't  you  see  further  than  your  nose ?  O, 
come  off ;  and  talk  like  the  man  you  are,  and  not 
like  a  school-boy." 

"  You  are  to  make  this  scheme  plain  to  me.  Go 
ahead,  and  let  me  play  unsuspecting  innocence." 

"Well,  if  you  make  Thad  think  you  do  not 
want  to  go  to  the  State  Senate,  and  let  us  fellows 
know  that  you  do  want  to  go,  we  will  see  that 
you  get  there." 


232  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"For  a  consideration,  of  course?"  Wendell 
said,  with  an  ill-concealed  sneer. 

"You  bet  your  sweet  life  !  What  are  we  here 
for  but  for  money  ?" 

"Well,  go  on." 

"When  he  finds  you  are  off  on  the  Senate, 
he  will  make  the  Banner  red-hot  for  you  for 
Congress." 

"Will  he?" 

"He  said  he  would — told  Judge  Tracy  so  in 
my  presence." 

"Good!     Goon." 

"Just  before  the  Convention,  say  the  day  be- 
fore, come  out  yourself  for  the  Senate,  and  us 
fellows  will  have  things  fixed  to  sweep  every 
delegate,  except  a  few  from  outside  towns,  into 
your  line,  and  there  you  are  ;  but  where  on  earth 
will  Thad  be?  Scooped!  Snowed  under  !  De- 
feat^r3 '  Crushed  !  Ground  to  powder  !  Blown 
away  Everything  yours !" 

"  Wise  head,  Sam  !  It  shall  be  as  you  say ; 
for  that  is  just  what  I  was  thinking  about 
doing!" 

"  Yes,  you  were  !"  very  sarcastically.  "  That 
is  what  made  you  so  all-fired  happy  when  I 
came  in !" 

"  Not  thinking  of  it  this  morning,  I  admit, 
but  before  this." 

*'  Then,  from  this  on,  the  Heavier  is  to  boom 


A  POLITICAL  SCHEME.  233 

you  for  Congress ;  and  we  are  to  pat  Thad  on 
the  back  for  the  State  Senate,  and  knife  him  in 
the  caucuses  ?  Everything  is  fair  in  war,  eh  ?" 

Sam  arose,  and  towered  over  Wendell,  who 
could  not  but  admire  his  fine  physique,  however 
much  he  loathed  his  deformed  spirit. 

With  noiseless  step  Seth  Russell  had  climbed 
the  stair  just  after  Sam  Slimkins,  and,  pausing 
for  a  moment  at  the  entrance,  he  could  see 
through  the  clear  spaces  between  the  frosting 
on  the  glass  of  the  upper  half  of  the  door  who 
were  the  occupants  of  the  office,  and  hearing 
through  the  transom,  which  was  ajar,  the  name 
of  his  dear  friend's  son,  he  listened  to  what  was 
said,  and  thanked  God  he  had  been  sent  to 
hear. 

As  Sam  Slimkins  passed  out,  Seth  Russell 
passed  in,  not  forgetting,  however,  to  make  a 
profound  bow  to  the  tall  schemer ;  not  out  of  re- 
spect, but  to  hide  the  flashing  of  his  eye  as  his 
heart  burned  with  strong  indignation  against 
him.  But  Seth  was  master  of  his  spirit,  and  his 
body  as  well ;  so  when  he  raised  his  eyes  to  Wen- 
dell's, they  were  twinkling  with  mirth  instead  of 
flashing  with  wrath,  as  a  moment  before.  But 
the  mirthful  twinkle  was  a  mask  behind  which 
was  hidden  the  fire  of  fierce  resentment.  Seth 
had  learned  to  wear  a  mask  early  in  life.  It 
was  never  worn  by  him  far  evil  purposes — only 


234  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

for  serving  uuselfish  purposes;  only  for  discov- 
ering and  thwarting  unholy  conspiracies. 

"The  sun  shines  not  more  serenely  this  cloud- 
less day  than  does  your  face  this  moment.  I 
hope  peace  reigns  within  I"  As  he  concluded 
he  made  a  low  bow  to  Wendell,  a  counterpart 
of  the  one  he  made  Sam  Slimkins. 

Wendell  smiled  upon  the  old  man,  and  ex- 
pected a  smile  in  return ;  but  when  Scth  lifted 
his  eyes  to  Wendell's,  they  were  like  balls  of 
fire  in  the  intensity  of  their  glow,  and  burned 
into  his  heart  like  the  focused  rays  of  the  sun 
through  the  microscope.  Instantly  the  smile 
faded,  peace  departed,  the  sun  darkened,  and 
Wendell  felt  chilled ;  but  he  knew  not  why,  and 
he  wished  Seth  had  not  come  in.  The  change 
was  noted  by  the  old  man ;  and  having  satisfied 
himself  of  his  power,  he  cared  not  to  use  it  fur- 
ther at  that  time,  and  the  soft  light  of  forbear- 
ance followed  the  glare  that  had  pierced  Wen- 
dell's guilty  soul.  What  a  relief  it  was  to 
Wendell ! 

M  Yes,  I  have  peace  within,"  he  said,  having 
found  words  to  reply  to  Seth's  salutation.  "  Why 
shouldn't  I?  Isn't  virtue  its  own  reward, 
Seth  ?" 

"  It  is,  it  is,  my  son  !  Take  the  advice  of  an 
old  man,  who  has  traversed  the  rough  ways  of 
life  too  long  to  be  deceived  by  appearances,  and 


A  POLITICAL  SCHEME.  235 

seek  only  such  things  as  conscience  can  com- 
mend !  Love  is  not  blind,  as  heathens  declare ; 
for  God  is  love,  and  his  eye  is  everywhere ! 
Who  wears  the  mask  of  love  to  serve  the  devil 
in,  will  find  the  devil  in  all  the  love  he  gains !" 

"  What 's  new  about  town  ?"  Wendell  asked, 
wishing  to  switch  the  old  man  off  his  moralizing 
track. 

" '  There  is  nothing  new  under  the  sun,'  Sol- 
omon said,  and  so  I  find  it.  'Though  hand 
join  in  hand,  the  wicked  shall  not  go  unpun- 
ished.'" 

"  Somebody  will  have  a  big  contract  on  hand 
to  carry  that  out,"  Wendell  said,  with  a  forced 
laugh.  "  Besides,  you  know,  Seth,  you  must 
catch  the  hare  before  you  skin  it!" 

"  Men  are  not  hares,  my  son,  and  God  is  not 
man !  Mark  that.  God  can  punish  the  wicked 
while  they  run — their  running  may  be  their 
punishment !" 

"Running  for  office,  I  suppose  you  mean,5' 
Wendell  said,  with  another  forced  laugh. 

"  Perhaps !  '  The  race  is  not  to  the  swift, 
nor  the  battle  to  the  strong. '" 

"  But  the  office  is  for  the  man  who  gets  the 
most  votes.  You  can  not  deny  that,  old  fellow." 

"  I  can,  and  do  !  Throckinorton  got  the  most 
votes  for  county  treasurer;  but  he  did  not  get 
the  office.1* 


*#  A**  O&D  FELLOW. 

"  Thad's  father,  you  mean  ?" 

"Yes." 

"Ah!  that  was  before  my  day.  I  do  not 
know  anything  about  ancient  politics." 

"  But  there  are  scores  of  us  old  gray  beards 
who  do  know  about  ancient  politics,  and  modern 
too." 

"  Throckinorton  must  have  been  an  odd  fel- 
low, if  he  was  anything  like  Thad  is  now,"  Wen- 
dell said,  meditatively. 

"  He  was  an  odd  fellow,  and  no  mistake  1" 

"  You  knew  him,  then  ?" 

"  Knew  and  loved  him  like  a  brother ;  and  I 
love  every  one  who  bears  his  name !" 

"  Thad  wants  to  be  senator — State  senator, 
you  know." 

"  He  shall  have  my  vote ;  and  influence  too, 
for  that  matter." 

"  As  against  me  ?"  Wendell  said,  with  well- 
assumed  surprise. 

"  As  against  anybody  !" 

"  O,  well,"  Wendell  said,  resignedly,  "  I  guess 
I  have  had  sufficient  honor  in  that  line.  If  I 
can't  get  it,  I  should  like  to  see  Thad  have  it" 

"  Have  what  ?"  asked  Judge  Tracy,  who  at 
that  moment  entered  the  office. 

"  The  State  senatorship,  Judge." 

"It  would  be  poor  policy  to  spoil  a  good  ed- 


A  POLITICAL  SCHEME.  237 

itor  to  make  a  poor  legislator,"  the  judge  said, 
smilingly,  as  he  passed  into  his  private  office. 

"Or  to  spoil  a  good  congressman  to  make  a 
poor  senator,"  Seth  added,  in  a  loud  voice,  and 
then  quickly  left  the  office. 

His  remark  cut  like  a  two-edged  sword, 
wounding  both  Judge  Tracy  and  his  partner; 
Wendell  Morrison,  not  seriously,  to  be  sure ;  but 
the  'blood  followed  the  blade,'  and  both  were 
uneasy  for  an  hour  over  the  remark  of  the  old 
man,  though  both  counted  him  as  naught  ir 
party  movements.  Wendell  felt  that  the  remark 
was  a  thrust  at  his  congressional  aspirations, 
and  a  backward  stroke  at  his  past  legislative 
record.  Judge  Tracy  felt  it  was  a  blow  at  his 
senatorial  plans,  intimating  that  to  be  congress- 
man was  enough  for  him ! 

It  is  surprising  how  Mordecai  can  annoy 
Haman !  It  is  surprising  how  Mordecai  tri- 
umphs over  Haman — and  yet  not  surprising 
when  God  is  with  Mordecai ! 

"  Here  is  a  note,"  the  judge  said,  coming  out 
of  his  office,  "that  Josie  asked  me  to  hand  you. 
I  forgot  it  when  I  came  in." 

Wendell  sprang  to  his  feet  to  receive  the 
note,  and  bowed  his  thanks. 


XXII. 

A  STRANGE  DISAPPEARANCE. 

i  I  THERE  were  only  a  few  people  in  Bramble- 
-£-  ville  who  knew  the  facts  in  the  matter  of 
Thaddeus  Throckmorton's  parentage.  Silly  gos- 
sip had  been  indulged  in  from  time  to  time  by 
envious  or  inconsiderate  neighbors  concerning 
the  disappearance  of  Mr.  Throckmorton,  and  it 
was  to  the  alleged  cause  of  his  disappearance 
that  Mrs.  Jessup  referred  when  attempting  to 
dissuade  Jennie  from  receiving  his  son's  atten- 
tions. There  is  not  much  to  the  story,  and  the 
details  may  as  well  be  given  now  as  later. 

Mr.  Throckmorton,  at  that  time  an  ambitious 
but  highly  sensitive  young  lawyer,  partner  in 
business  with  Judge  Tracy,  had  been  elected 
county  treasurer  by  a  good  majority  of  votes.  At 
least  so  it  appeared  from  the  unofficial  returns 
given  out  by  the  clerks  of  the  several  voting  pre- 
cincts. There  was  great  rejoicing  among  the 
young  lawyer's  friends,  and  among  all  the  voters 
of  his  party ;  for  he  was  the  only  candidate  on 
their  ticket  who  was  elected,  and  his  election  was 
the  first  break  in  the  continuous  control  of  all 
county  affairs  by  the  opposition.  For  several 
days,  or  from  the  time  of  closing  the  polls  and 
238 


A  STRANGE  DISAPPEARANCE.  239 

Counting  the  votes  to  the  time  of  the  official  can- 
vass of  the  returns  by  the  County  Board,  great 
demonstrations  of  delight  were  indulged  in  by 
Throckmorton  and  his  friends.  It  was  a  cold 
and  blustering  day  in  early  November  when  the 
County  Board  sat,  at  night,  to  complete  their 
work,  which  had  been  begun  in  the  forenoon. 
They  were  in  the  main  room  of  the  old  court- 
house in  Brambleville,  just  within  the  bar,  the 
inclosure  around  the  judge's  bench  reserved  for 
use  of  attorneys  during  court  sittings. 

Several  candles  on  the  table  at  which  they 
were  sitting  furnished  all  the  light  in  the  room. 
A  number  of  spectators,  representatives  of  both 
parties,  stood  outside  the  railing  and  watched 
the  proceedings.  Suddenly  a  window  was 
thrown  open,  and  a  gust  of  wintry  wind  swept 
through  the  room,  putting  out  the  lights,  blowing 
papers  about,  and  leaving  all  in  darkness.  Then 
followed  confusion,  overturning  chairs,  and  many 
an  oath  and  complaint.  Finally  the  window  was 
closed,  the  candles  relighted,  and  it  was  seen  that 
all  the  canvassers  were  present,  as  were  all  the 
spectators ;  but  the  tally-sheet,  the  poll-book,  and 
the  ballot-box  from  the  precinct  of  Brambleville, 
which  had  given  Throckmorton  his  majority, 
were  gone! 

Then  arose  a  wrangle.  From  laughing  re- 
marks about  the  strength  of  the  wind,  seeing  it 


240  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

had  spirited  away  a  heavy  ballot-box,  the  con- 
troversy grew  serious,  after  the  room  had  been 
searched,  and  no  trace  of  box,  book,  or  sheet 
was  found.  Then  Throckmorton  and  his  friends 
abandoned  their  first  suspicion,  that  some  wag 
had  hidden  them  during  the  temporary  dark- 
ness, and  that  it  was  accidental  that  the  box 
that  gave  him  his  majority  was  the  one  gone. 
Angry  words  were  quickly  followed  by  threats 
of  personal  violence.  In  hot  resentment  for  an 
insulting  remark,  Throckmorton  rushed  upon 
the  chairman  of  the  Board,  felled  him  to  the 
floor,  and  pounded  him  to  insensibility  before 
he  could  be  delivered  out  of  the  hand  of  his 
assailant.  Rejecting  the  advice  of  his  friends, 
and  believing  he  had  most  rashly  and  foolishly 
maimed  and  disfigured,  if  not  mortally  wounded, 
his  victim,  Throckunortou,  with  a  hasty  good- 
bye to  his  young  wife,  left  Brambleville  "until 
the  storm  should  blow  over."  The  injuries  the 
chairman  received  were  slight,  and  the  next  day 
he  laughed  about  the  affair,  and  said  he  would 
never  have  made  such  a  remark  about  so 
straight  a  man  as  Throckmorton  had  he  not 
been  drinking  freely,  and  was  a  little  excited 
over  the  election  anyway.  In  a  short  time, 
though  the  missing  box  was  never  found,  and 
Throckmorton's  opponent  was  "counted  in," 
peace  prevailed,  and  the  affair  was  looked  upon 


A  STRANGE  DISAPPEARANCE.  241 

as  a  dead  subject  by  all  except  one — and  that 
one  was  the  young  wife  who  became  a  mother 
after  a  few  months — for  all  said,  "  He  will  come 
back,"  and  his  political  friends  predicted  an- 
other victory  for  him  at  the  next  election ! 

But  he  never  came  back !  The  West  was  a 
wilderness  then,  unbroken  by  railway,  and  un- 
touched by  telegraph.  It  was  easy  for  one  to 
lose  himself,  and  to  be  buried  from  sight  and 
hearing  as  effectually  while  living  as  when  dead. 

Gossips,  as  the  years  rolled  by,  forgetting 
the  political  wrangle,  but  remembering  the  fact 
that  Judge  Tracy,  then  a  young  lawyer  like 
Throckmorton,  and  unmarried,  was  a  welcome 
guest  in  the  happy  home  of  his  partner,  most 
cruelly  and  falsely  bandied  the  name  of  the 
young  mother,  and  pursued  the  child  and  the 
subsequent  man  with  malignant  innuendo. 

But  for  no  second  of  time  in  all  those  years 
did  Seth  Russell  lose  confidence  in  his  beloved 
friend,  the  absent  lawyer,  nor  fail  to  follow  his 
child,  and  afterward  the  man,  with  his  prayers 
and  his  protection.  Not  a  Sabbath  afternoon 
went  by  without  bringing  Seth  to  the  home  of 
Mrs.  Throckmorton  for  a  lew  minutes'  chat,  and 
a  flood  of  wild  but  very  soothing  prophecies  of 
future  bliss  and  fame  for  both  father  and  son! 
"  For,  I  tell  you,  he  is  not  dead,"  he  would  say 
as  a  parting  word  each  time.  "  If  he  were,  I 
16 


242  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

would  feel  it  here"  striking  his  hand  repeatedly 
upon  his  breast     "  He  will  come  back !" 

Mrs.  Throcktnortoii  had  come  to  count  her 
husband  as  on  the  other  shore,  and  listened  to 
Seth's  oft-told  faith  as  one  would  listen  to  the 
tale  of  a  wandering  mind. 

.     Sometimes  Seth  would  become  very  fatherly 
in  his  manner,  and  in  soft  tones  would  say : 

"  Never  marry,  my  dear  Mrs.  Throckmorton. 
It  would  be  awkward  for  you,  if  you  should, 
when  he  comes  back. 

"  No,  no !  He  will  not  come  to  me,  but  I 
shall  go  to  him." 

"  But  is  he  not  here  now  ?"  he  would  say, 
excitedly.  "  Surely,  surely,  my  dear  woman, 
your  heart  tells  you  he  is  here ;  not  over  there ! 
Is  he  not  in  your  heart?" 

"  I  have  him  in  my  heart  every  hour,  Mr. 
Russell.  And  do  you  know  I  can  not  think  of 
him  as  old?  He  must  be  old  now,  you  know, 
and  gray  as  I  am ;  but  I  think  of  him  as  young 
and  strong,  as  lithe  and  gay.  I  hear  him  speak 
in  round,  full  tones.  I  see  him  walk  with 
steady  step  and  erect  form.  Though  my  hair 
is  gray,  I  think  of  his  as  clustering  in  black 
curls  about  his  head.  Though  I  wear  glasses, 
I  imagine  his  eye  flashes  as  in  those  other  days 
when  we  were  so  happy  together !" 

"To  be  sure!  to  be  sure!    That  is  love!    Ah! 


A  STRANGE  DISAPPEARANCE.  243 

you  know !  Love  never  grows  old.  How  can 
love  be  old  ?  '  God  is  love.'  And  love  is  like 
God's  mercies — new  every  morning." 

"What  a  philosopher  you  are,  Mr.  Rnssell !" 

"Not  at  all,  not  at  all,  iny  dear  woman.  Far 
from  it.  I  am  no  philosopher.  I  do  not  go 
about,  trying  to  find  the  whys  and  wherefores. 
But  let  me  tell  you !  I  have  found  a  fountain 
of  perpetual  youth.  The  same  that  the  Span- 
iards looked  for  in  the  New  World  centuries 
ago — looked  for,  but  never  found,  because  they 
searched  through  hills  and  vales.  It  is  not 
there.  It  is  in  God's  Word.  Like  Paul,  I  be- 
lieve ail  the  law  and  the  prophets.  Not  a  little 
here  and  a  little  there  ;  but  all." 

"  I  am  sure  you  do.  And  I  believe  you  are 
just  as  young  in  thought  and  feeling  as  when 
first  I  knew  you,  thirty  years  ago." 

"Younger,  younger,  my  dear  woman.  I  am 
younger  to-day  than  then  by  a  score  of  years. 
My  heart  is  with  children  now  as  never  before." 

"By  the  way,  have  you  noticed  Tingleman's 
children  lately  ?" 

"  Noticed  them  ?  How  could  I  fail  to  notice 
anything  in  your  family?  They  are  bright 
boys — just  like  their  mother.  She  was  a  jewel." 

"Did  you  know  her  well?" 

"Know  her?  Didn't  I  see  her  baptized 
when  not  more  than  three  months  old  ?  Did  n't 


244  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

I  know  her  mother?  Wasn't  her  mother  an 
own  cousin  to  Judge  Tracy?" 

"  Mr.  Russell !"  Mrs.  Throckmorton  exclaimed, 
in  genuine  surprise.  "  You  do  not  mean  that 
these  Tingleman  boys  belong  to  the  Tracy 
family?" 

"That  is  just  what  I  mean.  And  why  not? 
Do  they  dishonor  their  stock  ?  Not  a  bit  of  it. 
Tingleman  is  a  scamp,  no  doubt ;  but  his  wife 
and  his  wife's  mother  are  of  royal  blood ;  and 
blood  tells,  Mrs.  Throckmorton,  though  years 
intervene  and  providences  seem  to  go  awry." 

"But  do  you  suppose  Judge  Tracy  and  his 
wife  and  Miss  Josie  know  who  these  children 
are?" 

"To  be  sure.  What  would  you  have  them 
do?  Not  take  the  children,  surely — not  while 
you  live?  I  would  not,  and  the  Father  above 
would  not;  you  would  not,  and  Judge  Tracy 
would  not;  and  so  it  is  all  harmonious,  though 
so  very  inharmonious  when  you  come  to  con- 
sider the  reasons.  You  would  not,  because  you 
love  the  children ;  the  Father  above  would  not, 
because  he  has  prepared  your  heart  and  home 
for  just  this  purpose ;  Judge  Tracy  would  not, 
for  his  wife  and  daughter  do  not  wish  to  be 
bothered ;  and  I  would  not,  because  I  see  what 
gems  you  are  making  out  of  these  rough  stones. 
So  all  are  harmonious,  but  each  has  a  different 


A  STRANGE  DISAPPEARANCE.  245 

reason  for  doing  just  what  the  Father  wants 
done." 

"Yon  are  a  philosopher,  Mr.  Russell." 

"  No,  no,  no  f  not  a  philosopher,  but  simply 
a  believer  in  God's  Word — the  Law  and  the 
Prophets — as  was  Paul.  His  law  is  perfect, 
converting  the  soul ;  his  testimonies  are  sure, 
making  wise  the  simple.  I  am  a  simple  old 
man — I  mean  young  man — but  I  am  wise  be- 
cause I  believe  God's  Word.  He  says,  'All 
things  work  together,'  and  I  believe  it." 

And  so  it  was.  Though  Seth  Russell  knew 
the  source  of  his  strength  and  his  wisdom,  he 
little  dreamed  how  very  strong  he  was,  nor  how 
wise,  as  he  went  forward,  day  by  day,  trusting 
God,  and  doing  with  his  might  what  his  hands 
found  to  do. 

Nor  did  Wendell  Morrison,  nor  Sam  Slim- 
kins,  know,  until  too  late,  how  the  foolish  things 
confound  the  wise,  and  the  things  that  are  not 
bring  to  naught  the  things  that  are^  when  God 
is  with  the  foolish  and  when  he  is  with  the 
weakl 


XXIII. 

PLOTS. 

Y  "WENDELL  MORRISON  was  fully  com- 
^  ^  mitted  to  two  objects.  The  one  was 
election  to  the  State  Senate,  and  the  other  the 
wedding  of  Miss  Josie  Tracy.  These  two  ac- 
complished, he  felt  he  would  then  be  prepared 
for  further  political  advancement.  One  man 
only  stood  in  his  way — Thaddeus  Throckmor- 
ton — and  he  stood  in  both  paths. 

To  defeat  Thaddeus  politically,  as  already 
shown,  Morrison  could  trust  to  the  maneuvers 
of  Sam  Slimkins,  assisted  by  the  chief  of  police 
and  his  subordinates.  To  thwart  his  desires 
and  plans  matrimonially,  he  dared  not  leave  the 
work  to  any  other.  Nor  was  any  scheme  too 
hazardous  for  him  to  undertake  in  his  contest 
for  the  hand  and  heart  of  Miss  Tracy.  For  this 
reason,  when  she  invited  him  to  assist  her  in 
making  out  a  program  for  an  active  canvass  of 
the  county  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  he  cheer- 
fully and  promptly  complied,  and  even  consented 
to  become  the  principal  speaker  at  the  majority 
of  the  township  meetings  which  the  program 
provided  for. 

It  must  be  understood  that  at  that  time  tein- 
246 


PLOTS.  247 

perance  agitation  had  not  seriously  disturbed 
the  political  parties.  Indeed,  its  advocates 
sought  the  individual  reformation  of  the  drinker, 
rather  than  the  suppression  of  dram-selling.  It 
had  never  occurred  to  the  temperance  people 
that  the  end  sought  could  best  be  attained 
through  political  organizations,  and  by  way  of 
the  ballot-box.  Nevertheless,  he  must  be  a 
courageous  politician  who  would  antagonize  the 
saloon  element  by  boldly  and  publicly  espousing 
the  temperance  cause. 

Wendell  Morrison  had  no  lack  of  courage, 
and  hence  was  never  deterred  from  any  course 
by  fear  of  popular  disapproval.  He  trusted  al- 
ways to  his  skill  in  managing  men,  and  calcu- 
lated with  surprising  faith  to  ride  to  place  and 
power  on  the  reacting  wave  of  sentiment  that 
follows  every  tide  of  opposition  to  the  right. 

He  foresaw  the  burst  of  derision  and  the 
storm  of  dissent  that  would  greet  his  participa- 
tion in  the  temperance  crusade,  and  calmly 
counted  the  chances  of  his  stemming  the  cur- 
rent until  it  should  flow  back,  and  put  him 
where  he  longed  to  be — in  Judge  Tracy's  fam- 
ily, and  in  the  State  Senate.  Consequently  he 
was  prepared  for  Sam  Slimkins  when  he  rushed 
into  his  office,  exclaiming : 

"All  the  gods  in  heaven  and  all  the  devils 
on  earth  can't  save  you  if  you  do  n't  cancel 


248  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

these  dates !"  holding  out  a  copy  of  the  Banner, 
in  which  were  printed  the  places  and  dates  of 
the  rallies  for  temperance  reform. 

"  I  am  depending  on  mortals,  and  not  on  the 
gods,  Sam,  and  have  learned  that  mortals  are 
very  subject  to  moods,  and  are  not  often  con- 
trolled by  cool  judgment;  and  yet  the  worst 
men  have  a  vein  of  virtue  that  is  like  gold  in 
the  rock — the  most  valuable  and  the  most  easily 
worked  of  all  their  nature,  though  not  the  most 
prominent." 

"A  part  of  your  speech,  I  suppose?'  Sam 
said,  with  a  sneer,  as  he  sat  down  near  the 
young  attorney. 

"Perhaps  so.  I  have  not  yet  decided  just 
what  I  will  say." 

"  Have  some  sense,  Morrison  !  Here  we  have 
worked  every  whisky  man  in  the  county  to  op- 
pose Throckmorton  because  he  is  a  temperance 
crank,  and  you  come  along  and  spoil  it  by  be- 
coming a  crank  yourself!  I  tell  you,  the  jig  is 
up  unless  you  cancel  the  dates,  and  say  the  pub- 
lication was  unauthorized.  Geeminy  crickets, 
Morrison!  I  have  just  thought  of  it!  Do  that, 
Morrison,  and  we  can  make  it  appear  that 
Throckmorton  published  the  dates  in  his  paper 
to  kill  you  with  the  saloon  people.  The  tem- 
perance folks  already  know  you  drink  like  a 
fish,  even  when  you  are  spouting  for  them." 


PLOTS.  249 

"But  I  have  signed  the  pledge,  Sam,  and  do 
not  intend  to  drink  another  drop — until  after 
the  election." 

"  Yes,  you  have !"  Sam  said,  with  a  tone  of 
incredulity. 

"Fact  I  am  going  to  work  the  goody-goody 
voters,  and  want  you  and  the  boys  to  look  after 
the  bums.  See  ?" 

"  I  see ;  but,  Morrison,  you  are  a  blasted 
fool !  What  do  you  want  to  cater  to  the  God- 
and-morality  people  for?  You  know  they  are 
solid  for  the  party.  If  the  whisky  men  get 
mad,  no  power  on  earth  can  hold  them.  It  is 
business  with  them — dollars  and  cents." 

"Do  n't  I  know  all  that,  Sam?  Trust  me  to 
bring  this  out  all  right.  I  want  to  get  talked 
about  The  whisky  men  will  damn  me  awhile; 
but  when  I  put  up  my  money  for  all  the  liquor 
the  floaters  can  drink,  they  will  see  how  very 
shallow  is  my  conversion  to  temperance.  But 
for  awhile  I  must  stay  away  from  saloons,  and 
you  can  put  it  down  that  I  will  not  hurt  their 
business  in  my  speeches." 

"That  is  all  very  nice  on  paper,  or  in  your 
mind  ;  but  it  won't  work.  Let  the  whisky  men 
learn  once  that  you  are  actually  in  the  field 
against  them,  making  speeches  here  and  there 
and  everywhere,  and  it  will  take  a  year  to  get 
them  to  see  what  you  really  are  at" 


250  AN  ODD  FELLOW* 

"Not  correct,  Sam.  It  might  take  a  year  for 
me  to  establish  myself  as  a  true  convert  to  the 
temperance  cause ;  but  say,  you  old  fool,  one 
big  drunk  would  put  me  back,  safe  and  sound, 
on  the  broad-gauge  of  old  times.  See  ?  It  is 
hard  working  tip  to  the  God-and-morality  plane, 
but  I  can  get  down  in  the  twinkle  of  an  eye." 

"Well,  what  shall  I  do?" 

"For  the  present,  kind  o'  turn  a  cold  shoul- 
der to  me  publicly;  but  see  that  things  are 
kept  boiling  where  the  boys  are.  Come  up  to- 
night, and  bring  a  lot  of  the  fellows  with  you. 
I  will  have  refreshments  of  a  proper  kind  on 
hand,  and  we  can  play  for  a  small  consideration 
until  good  retiring  time — say  three  or  four  A.  M. 
See?  Our  morality  campaign  does  not  begin 
until  next  week." 

"All  right.  A  dozen  or  more  of  the  boys 
will  be  up  to-night.  Shall  I  tell  Billy  not  to 
'pull  us?'" 

"Tell  him,"  Wendell  said,  laughing  at  the 
mere  suggestion  of  the  chief  of  police  arresting 
the  proposed  gambling  party,  "  tell  him  to  come 
up  about  nine,  and  to  bring  a  corkscrew  with 
him.  That  is  all  the  pulling  he  will  care  about 
having  a  hand  in." 

"And  Andy,  too?" 

"Yes,  Andy,  too.  Just  as  well  have  the 
whole  force  here  as  not.  Then  we  are  sure  not 


PLOTS.  251 

to  be  surprised  while  at  our  game.  Capture 
the  officers,  you  know,  and  then  they  can  not 
capture  you." 

The  plans  were  all  executed  as  indicated,  and 
when  midnight,  with  its  solemn  silence,  hovered 
over  Bratnbleville,  Wendell  Morrison  and  his 
boon  companions  were  thumping  the  tables  in 
his  office  as  they  threw  their  cards,  filling  the 
room  with  clouds  of  tobacco-smoke,  and  repeat- 
edly draining  glasses  that  had  been  replenished 
with  intoxicants.  In  the  group  assembled  were 
law-makers,  law-executors,  law-judges,  and  yet 
all  were  law-breakers.  Pharisees  and  hypocrites, 
every  one ! 

The  same  night,  in  Judge  Tracy's  parlors,  a 
different  scene  was  being  enacted. 

When  Thaddeus  received  by  messenger  the 
program  Miss  Josie  and  Wendell  had  prepared, 
accompanied  by  the  usual  request  for  publica- 
tion, he  could  scarcely  believe  his  eyes.  For  an 
hour  he  struggled  against  the  temptation  to 
throw  it  into  the  waste-basket,  and,  by  refusing 
to  give  publicity  to  the  arrangement,  defeat  in  a 
measure  the  scheme  he  believed  Wendell  had 
wickedly  concocted  for  selfish  purposes.  He 
well  knew  that  Mr.  Monmoskin,  of  the  Gazette, 
would  never  mention  the  proposed  campaign, 
and  that  the  Banner  must  be  depended  upon  to 
advertise  it.  To  refuse  to  publish  it  would 


252  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

offend^Morrison  ;  and  had  iiot  Morrison  sent  him 
word  that  very  day  that  he  had  withdrawn  from 
the  race  for  the  State  Senate,  leaving  the  field 
clear  to  Thaddeus?  He  blushed  at  the  thought 
of  his  ingratitude,  and  mentally  confessed  him- 
self baser  than  he  had  ever  supposed,  because  he 
would  let  Wendell's  attentions  to  Miss  Tracy  be 
grounds  for  withholding  his  support  from  the 
temperance  work.  He  picked  up  the  copy,  and 
carried  it  to  the  printer,  remembering,  as  he 
walked  across  the  floor,  that  not  to  publish  the 
program  would  also  offend  Miss  Josie ;  and  he 
hoped  to  have  another  interview  with  her,  if  for 
no  other  purpose,  at  least  to  apologize  for  his 
hasty  and  impolite  departure  when  he  was  last 
there.  He  wanted  to  make  a  reconciliation  as 
easy  and  as  certain  as  possible,  and  to  publish 
the  program  was  a  step  in  that  direction.  So  he 
had  two  good  reasons,  aside  from  his  personal 
interest  in  the  work  of  reformation,  for  giving 
the  program  unusual  prominence  in  the  coining 
issue  of  the  Banner.  It  was  published,  and  its 
publication  and  the  warm  editorial  indorsement 
of  the  scheme  pleased  Morrison,  and  delighted 
Miss  Tracy. 

She  was  delighted,  because  she  took  the 
hearty  indorsement  the  Banner  gave  the  cam- 
paign as  evidence  that  Throckmorton  had  be- 
come reconciled  to  her  plan  to  have  him  step 


PLOTS.  253 

aside  temporarily  while  she  rescued  Morrison 
from  the  habit  of  strong  drink. 

Morrison  was  pleased  when  he  read  the  an- 
nouncement and  editorial  comment,  for  he  as- 
sumed that  Thaddeus  was  conciliated  by  his 
feigned  withdrawal  from  the  race  for  State 
Senate,  and  he  believed  that  he  could  easily 
hoodwink  the  young  editor  all  through  the 
contest. 

Thaddeus  himself  was  quite  satisfied  when 
he  glanced  over  his  paper  and  noted  the  edito- 
rial, for  it  seemed  to  be  evidence  that  he  was 
really  generous  and  self-sacrificing.  And  yet,  as 
he  walked  toward  Judge  Tracy's  house  a  few 
hours  later,  he  had  misgivings  as  to  the  outcome 
of  the  matter. 

But  his  reception  was  so  cordial,  and  so  dif- 
ferent from  what  he  had  feared  it  would  be, 
judging  from  the  manner  of  their  last  parting, 
that  he  was  reassured,  and  laughed  at  the  fears 
that  had  haunted  him. 

"  Thank  you,  ever  so  much,"  Miss  Josie  said, 
as  soon  as  she  could  find  a  place  for  the  remark 
after  ordinary  greetings,  u  for  the  kind  notice 
you  gave  of  our  temperance  meetings." 

"  Do  not  mention  it,"  Thaddeus  said,  for- 
mally, a  sudden  chill  choking  back  the  words  of 
love  that  were  trembling  a  moment  before  on 
his  lips.  Her  thauks  sounded  strangely  in  his 


254  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

ears.  Together  they  had  worked  for  months 
and  months  in  the  temperance  cause,  and  he  no 
more  expected  thanks  for  that  notice  than  for 
any  other  editorial  comment  he  had  written.  To 
thank  him  as  though  a  personal  favor  had  been 
conferred  on  her,  was  virtually  ruling  him  out  as 
an  interested  party  in  the  cause  that  had  en- 
gaged their  united  energies.  Then  he  stumbled 
over  the  "  our,"  feeling  that  it  meant  Miss  Josie 
and  Wendell,  and  not  Miss  Josie  and  himself. 

"You  will  be  with  us,  I  suppose,  of  course," 
Miss  Josie  said,  brightly. 

"  Of  course !"  Thaddeus  replied,  mechan- 
ically ;  but  instantly  realized  that  his  lips  and 
his  heart  were  at  variance.  Possibly  he  would 
be  with  them  for  political  effect ;  but  it  would 
be  a  fearful  departure  from  the  truth  to  say  he 
was  with  them  in  heart! 

His  impulse  was  to  excuse  himself  as  grace- 
fully as  possible,  and  quit  the  place  forever ;  and 
yet  he  could  not  go. 

Finally  he  stammered,  without  fully  under- 
standing the  import  of  his  words : 

"  Miss  Josie,  is  this  arrangement  of  yours 
with  Wendell  to  continue  long?" 

"Miss  Josie!'*  she  said,  smiling,  repeating 
his  'words.  "That  carries  me  back  a  great 
many  months,  Thad.  It  has  been  quite  a  time 
since  you  were  so  forainV 


PLOTS.  255 

j  "  I  beg  pardon,  my  dear,  it  was  an  uninten- 
tional return." 

This  deliberate  use  of  a  pet  term  seemed 
like  mockery  to  him  ;  for,  just  then,  under  the 
agony  of  wounded  pride,  almost  any  other  per- 
son was  more  dear  to  him  than  Miss  Tracy ! 

"  Thank  you  !"  she  said,  with  a  little  laugh, 
that  to  Thaddeus's  distorted  mind  was  full  of 
taunting.  "  You  are  not  very  amiable  to-night, 
Thad." 

He  quickly  noticed  that  she  had  not  re- 
sponded to  his  attempted  return  to  the  allowable 
familiarity  oi  persons  related  as  they  were.  It 
cut  like  a  knife;  but  he  would  not  let  his  hurt 
appear  in  word  or  manner.  Rallying  all  his 
forces,  he  held  himself  steady  to  the  purpose  ol 
his  call. 

"Josie,"  he  said  calmly,  "I  know  Morrison 
better  than  you  can  possibly  know  him — up  to 
this  time.  I  beg  you,  if  you  love  me  at  all,  not 
to  receive  any  attention  from  him ;  and  do  not 
permit  yourself  to  be  deceived  by  his  pretended 
reform.  He  is — " 

"Thad,"  she  replied,  interrupting  him,  "I 
do  not  grant  that  you  have  any  right — as  yet — 
to  dictate  to  me.  What  I  have  done,  and  what 
I  am  proposing  to  do,  has  my  mother's  sanction, 
and  her  approval  is  all  that  I  am — concerned 
about.'1 


256  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  Then  she  approves  your  course,  knowing, 
as  she  does,  that  we  are  engaged  ?" 

"  She  does.  She  feels  that  my  influence  over 
Mr.  Morrison  will  save  him  from  a  drunkard's 
grave.  She  knows  that  we  are  not  to  be  mar- 
ried for  a  long  time  yet;  not  until  you  have 
been  elected,  you  know ;  for  you  said  so  your- 
self— and — that  may  be  longer  than  either  of  us 
think.  So  I  do  not  feel  that  it  is  right  for  me 
to  refuse  iny  help  to  him  now.  Papa  is  greatly 
taken  up  with  the  idea.  He  says,  but  for  that 
one  fault,  Wendell  would  be  as  perfect  a  gentle- 
man as  he  is  a  brilliant  and  successful  lawyer." 

"  But,  Josie,"  Thaddeus  said,  gently,  and  with 
some  of  his  old-time  iervor  of  manner,  u  would 
you  be  quite  satisfied  for  me  to  make  a  sim- 
iliar  arrangement  with  some  one  for  a  sim- 
ilar purpose  to  save  her  from  some  fearful  sin, 
at  the  same  time  holding  you  to  your  promise 
to  me?" 

He  hoped  to  find  by  that  route  a  way  to  her 
heart,  but  was  disappointed  when  she  answered, 
a  slight  flushing  of  her  face  being  the  only  token 
that  his  words  had  touched  her  at  all: 

"  Of  course  I  must  allow  you  the  same  free- 
dom I  claim  for  myself.  If  you  know  of  some 
one  whom  you  can  save — why,  I  must  not 
object  1" 

"  Josie,"  he  said,  with  a  sigh,  "  I  hoped  you 


PLOTS.  257 

would  see — I  hoped  your  woman's  heart  would 
tell  you — that  aiiy  one  needing  to  be  saved  would 
be  an  unworthy  companion  for  me.  And  I 
hoped  you  would  feel  in  your  soul  how  torturing 
to  me  is  your  proposed  plan  for  rescuing  Wen- 
dell. He  is  stronger  than  you,  my  love,  and  I 
tell  you  now,  he  laughs  at  your  notion  of  res- 
cuing him.  He  does  not  want  to  be  rescued. 
He  wants  you.  O,  my  darling,  I  can  not  endure 
this  !  Your  pure  soul  must  never  be  joined  with 
his !  I  beg  of  you,  sweetheart,  do  not  expose 
yourself  to  his  wiles — to  his  power.  He  is  rich ; 
he  is  brilliant ;  he  is  successful ;  but  then  he  is 
a  knave,  and  unworthy  of  you  !  I  am  poor,  and, 
so  far,  have  achieved  no  fame,  such  as  his ;  but, 
darling,  I  love  you,  and  that  is  more  than  he  can 
say  !  He  loves  only  one  ;  but  that  one  is  Wen- 
dell Morrison  I" 

Thaddeus  stooped  as  he  spoke,  and  took 
Josie's  hands  in  his,  and  pressed  them  to  his 
heart  She  did  not  resist;  but  he  was  conscious 
that  no  response  came  from  her  heart  to  his  pas- 
sionate appeal,  nor  did  her  eyes  meet  his,  but 
were  bent  upon  the  floor.  Wounded  afresh  by 
her  indifference,  he  arose  from  her  side,  and  re- 
sumed his  seat,  burying  his  face  in  his  hands, 
and  awaiting  the  reply. 

"  Thaddeus,  what  you  have  said  ought  to 
have  thrilled  my  soul — ought  to  have  moved 
17 


258  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

me  from  my  present  purpose !  But  it  does  not. 
I  am  quite  as  much  surprised  that  it  does  not  as 
you  are  wounded  by  my  indifference.  To  me 
this  is  a  revelation.  I  begin  to  doubt  whether  I 
have  not  mistaken  pity  for  you  in  your  strug- 
gles for  love.  It  may  be  I  have.  Forgive  me 
if  I  have.  Yet  I  know  I  have  loved  you — and 
do  now  some,  surely.  And  yet,  because  I  am 
willing  to  let  you  go  to  save  Wendell,  must 
mean  something." 

"  It  does,  Josie,  it  does !  I  see  now  what  I 
have  not  seen  before.  It  is  pity,  and  not  love 
for  me.  I  do  forgive  you.  Even  your  pity  has 
been  very  sweet  to  me.  It  has  been  a  light  in 
many  a  dark  hour.  This  is  a  cruel  awakening, 
and  yet  it  must  be  best !" 

"  It  must  be,"  she  answered  simply ;  for  her 
heart  was  too  uncertain  in  its  promptings  to 
permit  her  to  say  more. 

"  And  yet,  Josie,  have  we  not  been  happy  to- 
gether? And  is  the  past  to  be  but  a  memory? 
Do  our  paths  diverge  here?  Will  they  never 
fall  in  the  same  direction  again  ?  It  is  a  dream, 
after  all !" 

"  Do  not  grieve  so,  Thad,"  she  said,  softly, 
with  just  a  hint  of  her  old-time  tenderness  in 
her  voice.  "  It  is  better  for  us  both  to  have 
this  happen  now  than  after  it  is  too  late !" 

"  But  promise  me  one  thing,  Josie:     By  the 


PLOTS,  259 

love  I  bear  you,  by  the  memory  of  all  you  have 
been  to  me,  I  beg  you  not  to  give  yourself  to 
Wendell.  Anything  but  that !" 

"  I  can  not  promise.  Just  now  I  do  not 
think  I  ever  will;  for  I  do  not  believe  he  cares 
for  me  except,  perhaps,  as  a  sister,  and — " 

"  Say  no  more.  I  understand  it  all.  Already 
his  fascination  holds  you.  Good-bye  once 
more — and  forever.  L<et  no  one  know  of  this. 
I  shall  be  too  busy  in  the  office  to  take  any  part 
in  the  campaign  you  have  outlined.  It  is  just 
as  well.  Good-bye!" 

Thaddeus  arose,  took  her  hand  in  his,  clasped 
it  fervently  for  a  moment,  hoped  for  some  slight 
token  of  regret  on  her  part  at  the  parting,  but 
none  was  given,  and  he  silently  withdrew,  go- 
ing out  into  the  starlight  with  an  aching  heart 
and  a  crushed  spirit. 

"Whither,  so  wearily?"  asked  Seth  Russell, 
stepping  before  him  as  he  walked  slowly  home- 
ward. "  Have  your  enemies  come  upon  you  to 
eat  you  up?  Hope  thou  in  God;  for  thou  shalt 
yet  praise  him  !  Wait  on  the  Lord  ;  be  of  good 
courage,  and  he  shall  strengthen  thy  heart. 
Wait,  I  say,  on  the  Lord !" 

"  God  bless  you,  dear  friend  !  You  must  be 
an  angel  in  disguise.  You  happen  upon  me 
always  just  at  the  right  time.  I  am  discouraged 
to-night!  I  have  a  notion  to  tell  you  some- 


260  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

thing — something  that  I  should  like  to  tell  my 
father,  if  I  only  had  one  to  tell !" 

"  Tell  me,  my  son ;  tell  me  !  In  old  Seth's 
keeping,  any  secret  is  safe." 

"It  is  only  this:  I  have  been  engaged  to 
Miss  Tracy.  Did  you  know  it?" 

"  Of  a  truth,  my  son,  I  knew  it ;  but  no  great 
joy  came  to  my  heart  on  that  account!" 

"But  to-night — "  and  Thaddeus  hesitated. 
It  could  not  be  true!  "But  to-night,"  he  went 
on,  "the  engagement  was  broken,  and  it  nearly 
kills  me!" 

"So  it  does!  Poor  boy!  But  do  not  grieve. 
Do  not  be  cast  down;  there  are  other  truer 
hearts !  And  as  to  wealth,  there  are  those  who 
are  wealthier,  but  do  not  know  it  Now  am  I 
glad!  Now  do  I  know  why  I  wandered  the 
streets  to-night!  It  was  to  meet  you,  and  to 
cheer  you.  It  was  to  be  made  happy  myselt 
by  hearing  this.  The  Lord  hath  delivered  your 
soul  from  the  snare  of  the  fowler.  To  him  be 
praise.  Good-bye !" 

Quickly  down  a  side  street,  Seth  disappeared, 
and  Thaddeus  walked  home  with  a  lighter  heart 
and  a  firmer  step.  "  There  are  those  who  are 
truer  and  wealthier,"  he  repeated  to  himself.  "I 
wonder  to  whom  he  referred  ?" 

"I  just  came  to  say,"  spoke  Seth,  as  Thad- 
deus was  entering  his  home,  "  what  I  should 


PLOTS.  261 

have  said  a  little  while  ago.  There  is  one  who 
has  a  better  title  to  the  Morrison  estate  than 
Wendell.  Let  the  stars  sing  to  you,  and  let  the 
inoon  smile  on  you.  Let  the  stm  greet  you  at 
dawn  with  his  glory,  for  your  night  is  passing ; 
and,  behold,  the  day  is  here !" 

"What  an  odd  fellow  he  is,  to  be  stiref" 
Thaddeus  said,  half  aloud,  as  he  entered  his 
home.  "But  there  is  a  deep  meaning  to  his 
wild  words,  it  I  could  but  fathom  them." 


XXIV. 

TEMPERANCE  MEETING. 

THE  announcement  that  Wendell  Morri- 
son was  to  be  the  principal  speaker  drew 
crowds  of  people  to  every  meeting  in  the  tem- 
perance campaign,  as  arranged  by  Miss  Josie. 
The  temperance  workers  were  in  ecstasy,  be- 
cause the  men  they  had  longed  for  so  much — 
the  tipplers,  and  even  confirmed  drunkards- 
were  out  in  large  numbers,  drawn  thither  by 
curiosity,  to  see  and  hear  for  themselves  the 
one-time  liberal  and  free  Morrison,  who  had  be- 
come so  suddenly  the  champion  of  sobriety. 

If  Miss  Josie  ever  had  a  doubt  of  the  success 
of  her  scheme,  it  was  dispelled  at  the  first  meet- 
ing. Such  crowds !  Such  enthusiasm !  Such  a 
brilliant  address !  Such  a  perfect  success ! 
There  was,  nevertheless,  a  fly  in  the  ointment. 
Thaddeus  was  not  there,  and  somehow  his  ab- 
sence affected  her  spirits  strangely.  She  did 
not  know  he  had  had  such  a  large  part  in  her 
life.  His  absence  was  noted  by  others,  and  com- 
mented upon  variously. 

"He  is  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate — or 
rather,  the  nomination — and  he  is  afraid  of  the 
saloon  men,"  said  one,  with  a  sneer.  "It  is  no 
262 


TEMPERANCE  MEETING.  263 

more  than  I  expected.  Otir  best  men  kneel  to 
that  element  It  makes  me  heart-sick," 

"I  don't  believe  it,"  said  another.  "Thad- 
detis  Throckmorton  is  too  true  to  be  guilty  of 
snch  a  fear.  Let  the  Banner  speak  for  him. 
Week  after  week  it  devotes  column  upon  col- 
umn to  temperance  facts,  and  its  arguments  are 
telling." 

"  But,  do  n't  you  know,"  said  Captain  Thomp- 
son, who  had  driven  out  to  the  country  church, 
where  the  first  meeting  was  held,  as  company 
for  Major  Morrison  and  wife,  who  were  easily 
persuaded  to  lend  the  help  of  their  presence  to 
the  crusade,  seeing  that  Wendell  was  to  take 
such  a  prominent  part  in  the  proceedings,  "  do  n't 
you  know  that  a  ten-line  editorial  of  Thad's  has 
more  real  sense,  more  hard-fisted  argument,  in 
it,  don't  you  know,  than  a  whole  hour  of  some 
men's  harangue,  do  n't  you  know  ?" 

"I  hope — ha!  ha! — Captain,  you  do  not 
now — ah  ! — refer — that  is  to  say — ha !  ha ! — you 
do  not  mean — ah  ! — to  have  us — ha !  ha ! — draw 
any  inferences  at  the  present — ha !  ha !"  said 
Mr.  Christie,  as  he  leaned  out  of  the  buggy,  and 
gently  beat  the  dust  off  the  weeds  by  the  road- 
side with  the  whip ;  for  he  had  come  with  Miss 
Edith  in  her  father's  buggy,  driving  a  horse 
that  could  not  run  away  if  it  had  wanted  to, 
being  made  proof  against  such  a  caprice  by  the 


264  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

infirmities  of  years.  Indeed,  with  difficulty  the 
faithful  old  servant  made  the  distance  of  ten 
miles  from  Brambleville  to  the  country  church, 
hopping  along  on  two  feet,  and  dragging  the 
other  two  through  the  dust,  sending  a  cloud  of 
it  into  the  air  at  every  attempted  lifting  of  the 
feet  out  of  it  as  it  lay  three  inches  deep  in  the 
much-used  highway. 

Notwithstanding  this,  and  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  the  meeting  was  well  under  way 
when  they  reached  the  church,  Mr.  Christie 
said,  as  he  lifted  Miss  Edith  to  the  ground : 

"A  very  dusty  drive — ha!  ha! — Miss  Edith, 
and — all ! — a  very  heavy  road  ;  but — ha  !  ha  !— 
we  made  it  in  a  remarkably  short  time.  It 
seems  but — ah  ! — a  short  hour,  when,"  looking 
at  his  watch,  "when  it  is  now  nearly  noon. 
Ha!  ha!" 

"  Impossible,  Mr.  Christie ;  for  we  started  at 
eight  o'clock,  and  surely  we  have  not  been  four 
hoars  coming  ten  miles  !" 

"Beg  pardon,  my — Miss  Edith!  The  watch 
has  stopped.  It  is  the  same  time  I  left  your 
house  last  night — quarter  to  eleven.  Ha!  ha!" 

For  this  reason,  Captain  Thompson  had  good 
grounds  for  saying,  in  reply  to  a  remark  Mr.  Chris- 
tie had  addressed  to  him  when  they  were  discuss- 
ing the  meeting  just  before  dinner  was  spread: 

"But,   don't    you    know,   Charlie,   the    best 


TEMPERANCE  MEETING*  265 

thing  for  you  to  do  is  to  draw  no  inferences, 
do  n't  you  know,  seeing  what  time  you  got 
here,  do  n't  you  know?  Why,  we  passed  you 
two  miles  out  of  Brambleville,  do  n't  you  know?" 

"Well — ha!  ha! — that  is  a  good  one — ha! 
ha ! — on  me,  Captain  ;  but — O !  ah ! — if  you  will 
promise — ha!  ha! — not  to  mention  it,  I  will  tell 
you  what  detained  us— ha!  ha! — when  I  get 
home." 

"Never  mind;  for  Mr.  Lysander  has  told  me 
already,  don't  you  know?" 

"Ladies  and  gentlemen!"  called  the  stento- 
rian voice  of  Wendell,  as  he  mounted  a  stump 
just  outside  the  church.  "You  are  invited  to 
repair  to  the  beautiful  grove  just  at  hand,  to 
the  right,  and  spread  your  lunches  on  the  grass. 
Arrangements  have  been  made  for  supplying 
you,  free  of  cost,  with  an  abundance  of  refresh- 
ing drinks — nectar,  distilled  from  the  dews  of 
heaven;  a  beverage,  brewed  in  the  sweet  cham- 
bers of  God's  great  laboratory;  a  drink  as  pure 
as  an  angel's  dream,  and  as  harmless  as  a  dove's 
soft  cooing, — an  abundant  supply  of  cool,  clear, 
delicious  water." 

So  saying,  he  stepped  down,  took  Miss  Josie 
upon  his  arm,  and  carrying  her  capacious  basket, 
rilled  with  daintiest  food,  led  the  way  to  the  des- 
ignated lunch-ground. 

Mr.  Christie  and  Miss  Edith  were  dissuaded 


266  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

from  driving  home  for  diniier,  as  was  their  in- 
tention when  they  came  ;  so  they  consented  to 
join  Captain  Thompson  and  Major  Morrison 
and  wife,  leaving  Miss  Josie  and  Wendell  to 
spread  their  dinner  under  another  tree,  where 
they  invited  to  lunch  with  them  such  men  as 
Wendell  thought  would  appreciate  and  remem- 
ber such  a  favor. 

"Charlie,"  said  Captain  Thompson,  as  they 
slowly  walked  together  toward  the  church  after 
dinner,  Major  Morrison,  his  wife,  and  Miss  Edith 
having  gone  on  before,  "it  is  high  time,  don't 
you  know,  for  us  to  take  a  hand,  do  n't  you 
know,  in  seeing  that  Thad  gets  the  nomination 
for  the  State  Senate?  Wendell's  men,  don't 
you  know,  are  simply  doing  nothing  for  Thad, 
though  Wendell  says  he  is  out  of  the  race,  do  n't 
you  know?  But  say,  Charlie,  what  do  you  think 
of  his  speech  for  a  temperance  speech?" 

"Was  that — ha!  ha! — was  that  a  temperance 
speech,  Captain?  I  got  in  late — ha!  ha! — and 
supposed  he  had  got  through  with  his  temper- 
ance talk — ha!  ha! — and — ah! — was  just  trying 
to  please  '  the  boys.'  It  was  good,  as  all  Wen- 
dell says  is  good — ah! — but — ha!  ha! — as  to 
temperance — well,  what  7  heard  was  as  much 
astronomical  as  temperance." 

"But,  don't  you  know,  Charlie,  I  have  a 
notion,  do  n't  you  know,  that  Wendell  is  doing 


TEMPERANCE  MEETING.  267 

this  to  make  a  reputation  as  an  orator,  do  n't 
you  know,  to  catch  the  popular  fancy,  and  to 
cut  Thad  out  in  the  end?" 

"Reputation,  Captain?  Why,  tie  has  that 
now — ha!  ha! — both  good  and  bad.  But,  of 
course,  I  see  what  you  mean — ha!  ha! — and 
must  confess — ha !  ha ! — it  looks  that  way.  Ha ! 
ha!  The  knave!" 

"  Hist !  Here  we  are  !  Well,  Mrs.  Morrison, 
do  n't  you  know,  I  wish  you  had  been  along, 
do  n't  you  know,  with  the  Major  and  me,  do  n't 
you  know,  when  we  had  to  do  our  own  house- 
work, do  n't  you  know,  down  in  Dixie  ?" 

And  then,  as  they  sat  under  the  tree  and 
waited  for  the  after-dinner  exercises,  the  major 
and  the  captain  related  bits  of  their  army  ex- 
periences, helped  out  by  Mr.  Christie,  who  filled 
in  with  the  experiences  of  those  who  staid  at 
home. 

The  afternoon  program  consisted  of  songs 
and  recitations  by  the  children  of  that  neigh- 
borhood. Later,  the  participants  and  the  well- 
satisfied  people  in  attendance,  drove  homeward; 
but  among  them  were  two  restless  hearts — Miss 
Josie  and  Wendell  Morrison;  for  there  had  been 
a  lack  in  that  gathering  that  seriously  disturbed 
the  peace  of  mind  of  both.  Both  were  sorry 
and  displeased  because  Thaddeus  was  not  there. 
One,  because  he  occupied  so  large  a  place  in 


268  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

her  heart,  though  she  had  made  herself  believe 
he  did  not ;  the  other,  because  the  Banner  would 
not  contain  a  synopsis  of  his  address,  and  would 
have  no  warm  words  of  commendation  of  the 
speaker's  style  and  effectiveness.  Both  were 
selfish  motives,  to  be  sure. 

The  drive  homeward  was  strangely  silent. 
Neither  cared  to  talk,  though  each  tried  to  en- 
tertain the  other.  The  effort  was  so  apparently 
irksome  that  after  awhile  they  agreed  that  they 
were  too  tired  to  be  pleasant,  and  both  were 
glad  when  the  end  was  reached,  and  they  could 
say,  "Good-bye!" 

Both  spent  much  time  that  night  in  devis- 
ing a  plan  by  which  Thaddeus  would  certainly 
be  brought  to  the  next  meeting. 


XXY. 

APPEARANCES  DECEITFUL. 

RE  you  surprised  to  see  me  ?"  Miss  Josie 
asked,  as  she  hurried  into  the  Banner 
office  at  noon,  a  few  days  later,  finding  Thad- 
deus  at  his  desk,  quite  alone.  "  Mamma  is  wait- 
ing for  me  in  the  carriage  down-stairs.  I  told 
her  I  wanted  to  see  you  about  some  printing, 
and  I  do.  Here  it  is.  Some  blank  pledges  for 
our  next  meeting.  O  dear!"  She  stopped  a 
moment  in  her  rapid  talking,  and  then  went  on: 
"Running  up-stairs  took  my  breath  away,  and 
my  heart  is  all  a-flutter.  Let  me  sit  down  a 
minute — just  a  minute ;  for  mamma  will  won- 
der what  is  keeping  me.  But  say,  Thaddeus, 
won't  you  please  go  to  our  next  meeting?  I 
missed  you  so  much  from  the  last  one.  Please?" 
"Why  should  I?"  he  asked,  rather  constrain- 
edly, though  his  own  heart  was  "  a-flutter,"  too, 
and  he  had  not  run  up-stairs,  either.  "I  am 
not  on  the  program,  and,  from  what  I  have 
heard,  you  do  not  need  me  to  swell  the  attend- 
ance or  get  up  enthusiasm,  and — " 
He  hesitated,  and  she  exclaimed : 
"Why  should  you?  Why,  principally  be- 

269 


270  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

cause  /want  you  to  go.  Is  not  that  enough? 
It  was  once." 

"So  it  was,  Josie;  but  surely,  sitrely,  you 
have  not  forgotten?  Do  n't  you  remember  what 
you  said  when  last  we  met  ?" 

"  I  do,  Thad ;  but  I  was  not  myself  that 
night.  Come  again1 ;  I  have  something  to  tell 
you.  But  I  must  go.  Good-bye  1  We  will  look 
for  you." 

With  that  she  was  out  of  the  door,  and  hur- 
rying down  the  steps. 

" '  We  will  look  for  you.*  Why  could  she  not 
have  said  If"  Thaddeus  remarked  half  aloud 
and  in  a  bitter  tone,  going  to  the  window  in 
time  to  see  her  enter  the  carriage  and  drive 
away.  She  cast  a  glance  upward,  and,  seeing 
Thaddeus  at  the  window,  smiled  most  bewitch- 
ingly.  Thaddeus  was  completely  overcome  by 
that  call.  He  had  felt  himself  free  from  the  en- 
thrallment  of  Miss  Tracy's  attractions,  and  was 
rejoicing  in  the  ease  with  which  he  bore  his  dis- 
appointment in  her;  but  now,  in  a  second's  time, 
he  found  himself  again  a  prisoner  to  her  whims, 
if  that  term  is  a  correct  expression  of  her  tem- 
per. At  once  he  did  what  some  would  call  a 
foolish  thing.  He  strode  to  his  office-door, 
locked  it,  and  then  flung  himself  upon  a  pile  of 
baled  paper,  and  groaned  out  a  prayer  for  strength 
and  wisdom.  But  scarcely  had  he  done  so  belore 


APPEARANCES  DECEITFUL.  2J1 

the  door  was  tried  by  some  one,  desiring  to  enter. 
Not  knowing  who  it  was,  he  sprang  to  his  feet 
and  called  out : 

"All  right ;  wait  a  minute  !" 

"  Beg  pardon,"  Rev.  Mr.  Outwright  said. 
, "  Do  I  intrude  upon  your  privacy  ?  I  hoped  to 
find  you  alone  at  this  hour,  as  I  knew  you  never 
closed  your  office  for  dinner.  You  are  troubled!" 
he  exclaimed,  as  he  noticed  Thad's  wretched 
face,  and  thought  he  detected  signs  of  tears  in 
his  eyes. 

"Yes,  troubled,  Mr.  Outwright;  but  that  is 
not  new  for  me,  and  I  beg  you  not  to  think 
about  it.  What  can  I  do  for  you  ?" 

The  last  remark  was  accompanied  by  a  forced 
smile,  altogether  unlike  the  usual  radiance  that 
illuminated  Thad's  face. 

"What  can  /  do  for  you?  let  me  ask,  the 
rather,"  said  the  minister,  taking  Thad's  arm, 
and  walking  with  him  to  his  desk. 

"Nothing,  my  dear  friend;  and  yet  I  would 
like  to  have  your  advice.  Which  should  control 
one  in  this  life,  duty  or  desire,  supposing  the  two 
to  be  antagonistic?" 

"  Duty,"  Mr.  Outwright  replied,  promptly. 
"Do  you  not  recall  the  Divine  example?  He 
said,  '  Let  it  pass ;'  but  added,  •  Thy  will,  not 
mine.'  He  desired  to  escape  the  cross,  but  duty 
led  him  thither." 


272  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"That  is  what  I  expected  you  to  say*  It  is 
what  you  ought  to  say;  and  yet,  Mr.  Outwright, 
somewhere,  in  the  Psalms  I  think,  it  is  written  : 
'  Delight  thyself  in  the  Lord,  and  he  will  give 
thee  the  desires  of  thine  heart' " 

"True ;  but  be  sure  you  first  find  delight  in  his. 
service.  That  is  the  condition  upon  which  we  are 
to  have  the  desires  of  our  heart." 

"  I  see.  But  say,  Mr.  Outwright,  what  is  one 
to  do  when  he  does  not  know  what  the  desire 
of  his  heart  is,  being  so  divided  between  two  or 
more  objects?" 

"Miss  Josie  and  Miss  Jennie,  for  instance!" 
Mr.  Outwright  exclaimed,  laughing  knowingly. 
And  before  Thad  could  say  a  word,  he  added  : 
"  Both  are  gems  of  the  first  water,  and  you  will 
be  glad  always  whichever  you  choose." 

"  What  made  you  say  that  ?"  Thad  asked,  the 
color  mounting  his  cheeks  unpleasantly.  "  Do 
you  observe  that  closely?" 

"A  mountain  is  n't  hard  to  see,  my  brother, 
and  practice  makes  perception  acute.  But  par- 
don the  pleasantry.  What  objects  divide  your 
heart  now — the  State  Senate  and  the  Banner? 
I  confess  I  will  dislike  to  see  you  elected  if  the 
Banner  must  lose  you ;  and  yet,  in  all  sincerity, 
I  hope  you  will  be  elected ;  for  the  State  needs 
you." 

"The  election  will  be  certain  if  I  am  nomi- 


APPEARANCES  DECEITFUL.  273 

nated,  for  the  district  is  very  safe  our  way,  you 
know." 

"  But  you  have  no  opposition,  have  you,  for 
nomination?" 

"  None  visible  ;  but  I  have  learned  to  be  very 
suspicious  ol  some  people  I  could  name.  Quiet- 
ness does  not  always  mean  peace." 

"Whom  do  you  fear?" 

"  Morrison !" 

"Ah!  do  you?  Then  you  know!  I  came 
up  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  put  you  on  your 
guard.  I  chanced  to  overhear  a  bit  of  conversa- 
tion in  the  post-office  lobby  to-day  that  set  me 
to  thinking.  Seth  Russell  was  there  at  the  same 
time  reading  a  paper ;  but  I  judge  his  eyes  were 
not  as  attentive  to  the  printed  page  as  his  ears 
were  to  the  rather  loud  though  whispered  con- 
versation between  the  chief  of  police  and  Mr. 
Slimkins." 

"  Did  you  hear  anything  of  consequence  ?" 

"Perhaps  not;  but  I  caught  several  signifi- 
cant words,  and  noticed  a  good  deal  of  winking 
and  suppressed  mirth.  Slimkins  said,  '  Throck- 
morton  snowed  under!  Sweet  innocence!'  and 
Barnwell  said,  'He  won't  have  six  votes  in  the 
Convention  ;'  but,  of  course,  I  do  not  know  what 
he  meant.  It  occurred  to  me,  however,  that 
they  might  be  fooling  you  ;  so  I  came,  my  friend, 
to  put  you  on  your  guard," 

18 


274  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  Thank  you,  ever  so  much  !  It  only  con- 
firms my  suspicions.  But  if  Seth  was  there  he 
will  give  me  the  straight  of  it  What  he  does 
not  hear,  he  has  revealed  to  him,  surely ;  for  he 
knows  everything  that  is,  has  been,  or  is  to  be, 
it  seems  to  me." 

"There  is  another  thing.  The  Banner  has 
always  been  a  temperance  advocate,  and  now 
that  a  vigorous  campaign  is  on,  I  believe  you 
ought  to  be  at  all  of  these  township  meetings.  I 
missed  you  from  the  last  one.  You  will  not 
lose,  but  will  gain  by  it.  Do  not  let  Morrison 
steal  your  leadership  in  temperance  work.  I 
fear  his  work  is  all  for  effect;  but  the  mass  of 
the  people  will  not  see  through  his  disguise 
until  too  late.  Go  to  the  next  meeting,  won't 
you?" 

"I  have  been  thinking  about  it.  Yes,  I  think 
I  will.  Will  you  be  there?" 

M  Unless  providentially  prevented.  But  I  hin- 
der you;  besides  I  must  hurry  home,  as  I  have 
an  engagement  to  meet.  Good-day." 

"  Father,"  Thaddeus  said,  leaning  his  head 
on  his  desk,  after  Mr.  Outwright  left,  "  I  thank 
thee  for  this  servant  of  thine,  and  the  help  he 
has  brought  me  to  decide  what  to  do.  Be  thou 
with  me  in  this  struggle  for  the  right !" 

That  evening  found  Thaddeus  at  Judge 
Tracy's  home,  a  place  he  thought  he  should 


Hello,  Seth!"  Thaddeus  exclaimed.— Page  275. 


APPEARANCES  DECEITFUL.  275 

never  again  enter.  The  hopes  his  last  visit  had 
so  cruelly  crushed,  had  revived  under  the  warmth 
of  Miss  Josie's  invitation  for  him  to  call,  and  the 
promise  that  she  would  tell  him  something,  gave 
him  grounds  upon  which  to  build  a  belief  that 
she  had  repented  of  her  hasty  action  in  dismissing 
him  for  Wendell. 

"Excuse  me,"  Miss  Josie  said,  meeting  him 
at  the  dooor,  having  been  warned  by  his  well- 
known,  decided,  and  quick  step  upon  the  stone 
walk,  at  the  same  time  blushing  deeply  in  con- 
fusion, "  Mr.  Morrison  is  in  the  parlor.  Will  you 
come  in,  or  would  you  rather  call  some  other 
time?" 

"Thank  yon,  some  other  time ;  good-night," 
and  he  was  gone.  Could  there  have  been  a  more 
inopportune  call  than  that?  Where  now  were 
all  his  good  resolutions  and  his  adherence  to 
duty,  his  promise  to  Mr.  Outwright,  and  his  be- 
lief that  God  was  guiding  his  steps  ?  He  strode 
down  the  walk,  flung  the  gate  open,  and  was  in- 
tending to  let  it  come  back  to  its  place  with  a 
resounding  clash,  when  it  stopped  halfway,  closed, 
and  a  voice  said  softly : 

"The  sheep  does  well  to  seek  the  fold  when  a 
grievous  wolf  is  around." 

"Hello,  Sethi"  Thaddeus  exclaimed.  "Did 
you  drop  from  heaven,  or  come  up  out  of  the 
ground?" 


276  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  From  heaven,  my  son,  and  soon  enough  to 
see  that  wolf  enter  that  home.  Beware,  lest  his 
teeth  harm  you !" 

"What  is  the  news,  Seth?"  Thaddeus  said, 
calmly,  walking  toward  his  office  with  his  friend, 
and,  by  sheer  will-power,  beating  back  the  grief 
of  that  sudden  and  new  disappointment. 

"Much  news,  son  of  my  best  beloved  friend. 
You  are  your  father's  heir !  He  was  the  victim 
of  conspiracy,  and  lo!  you  have  his  heritage. 
Nets  are  spread  for  your  feet,  and  your  familiar 
friend  is  the  fowler  that  would  ensnare  thee ! 
Trust  not  to  appearances  !" 

"What  now,  Seth?  You  must  drop  your 
figures  and  tell  me  plainly.  Who  is  plotting 
against  me,  and  what  can  be  done  to  thwart  him  ?" 

"  Well  asked,  my  son  !  Morrison  is  secretly 
cherishing  the  hope  of  nomination  for  the  Senate, 
though  he  is  out  for  Congress.  He  knows  that 
he  will  not  get  the  Congressional  nomination,  but 
intends  to  crush  you  by  taking  the  State  Senate 
nomination  right  oat  of  your  hands  in  the  Con- 
vention. The  plan  is  this:  Every  precinct  will 
instruct  for  you,  and  select  delegates  for  Morrison. 
Instructions  are  wind ;  but  delegates  are  flesh  and 
blood,  that  can  eat  and  drink  and  vote.  There 
it  is  in  a  nutshell !" 

"  Thank  you !  Forewarned  is  to  be  forearmed. 
I  will  meet  him  on  his  own  grouud !" 


APPEARANCES  DECEITFUL.  277 

"Good,  son  of  my  well  beloved  friend!  Do 
that  and  victory  shall  be  yours.  Never  lower 
your  standard.  Hope  thou  in  God.  I/et  Morri- 
son trust  in  chariots  and  in  the  multitude  of  his 
horses  ;  but  put  your  trust  in  God,  and  get  out  the 
voters  at  the  primaries  /" 

"Would  you  advise  me  to  attend  these  tem- 
perance rallies?  Morrison  is  the  chief  speaker, 
you  know,  at  all  of  them." 

"Go  to  all  of  them!  He  may  be  the  chief 
speaker,  but  when  his  eloquence  is  forgot,  people 
will  remember  your  songs.  Go  and  sing  as  never 
before !  One  of  your  songs  will  outlive  a  hun- 
dred of  his  speeches.  Sing — and  if  you  can — 
mark  my  word,  sing — and  if  you  can  find  any- 
where a  voice  that  blends  with  yours,  and  a  heart 
that  looks  up  to  you  as  a  leader,  get  that  voice 
and  that  heart,  and  you  are  equipped  with  divine 
armor!  The  voice  is  God's  spear,  the  heart  is  his 
buckler." 

Thaddeus  was  pursuing  his  way  in  silence, 
but  in  deep  thought.  When  he  turned  to 
speak  to  his  friend,  he  was  nowhere  in  sight. 
He  had  noiselessly  slipped  away  down  a  con- 
venient by-street,  leaving  Thaddeus  to  his  own 
reflections. 

"  'A  heart  that  looks  up  to  me  as  a  leader,'  " 
he  repeated.  "  That  can  not  mean  Josie,  for 
she  has  always  rather  exercised  dominion  over 


278  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

me;  or,  if  not  that,  has  held  herself  beyond  me. 
'A  voice  that  blends  with  mine !'  That  can  not 
be  Josie's;  for,  while  onr  voices  harmonize,  they 
do  not  blend.  Each  is  as  distinct  as  gold  and 
silver.  'A  voice  that  blends ' — whose  can  that  be 
but  Jennie's  ?  'A  heart  that  looks  up  to  me  as 
leader?'  Bless  her!  all  through  school-days,  how 
she  came  to  me  for  advice  and  help  in  her  little 
troubles  and  in  her  lessons!  'A  heart  that  looks 
up,  and  a  voice  that  blends !'  O  Seth  Russell, 
thou  art  a  messenger  from  God !  Thou  art,  in 
his  name,  the  giver  of  sight  to  the  blind  !  Thou 
art  a  liberator  of  the  bound !  Thou  art  the  abode 
of  the  Spirit  of  God!" 

With  a  lighter  heart  Thaddeus  hurried  home, 
glad  that  Morrison  had  prevented  his  interview 
with  Miss  Josie.  Doubtless  they  were  at  that 
moment  perfecting  their  plans  for  the  continu- 
ance of  their  work  together.  If  Providence  would 
but  open  the  way,  the  next  meeting  should  be 
enriched  by  song,  as  well  as  illuminated  by  elo- 
quence. "Two  voices  that  blend,"  and  two  hearts 
that  are  complements  will  together  strive  for  pub- 
lic favor  on  the  same  platform  with 'two  minds 
that  plan,  and  two  hearts  that  scheme  for  place 
and  power.  Never  doubting  that  the  way  Seth 
Russell  pointed  out  was  the  way  the  Father 
smiled  upon,  Thaddeus  went  to  sleep  with  a 
deep-drawn  sigh  of  reliefl 


XXYI. 

VIEWS  AND  INTERVIEWS. 

RE  those  blank  pledges  ready  ?"  Miss  Josie 
asked  a  few  days  later  as  slie  swept  into 
the  Banner  office. 

"  Excuse  me,"  Thaddeus  said,  hastily  arising 
and  going  toward  the  table  where  the  pledges 
lay,  wrapped  and  ready  for  delivery.  "  You  need 
not  have  called.  I  intended  to  send  them  up  to 
you." 

"  Need  n't  I  ?"  she  asked  in  a  low  voice,  with 
a  half-sad  face,  and  then  added:  "But  I  wanted  to 
come  " — and  after  just  the  slightest  pause,  that 
was  very  effective  in  its  work  on  the  heart  of  the 
young  editor,  she  said,  half  apologetically — "for 
the  cards." 

Quickly,  and  with  a  show  of  asperity,  Thad- 
deus said  impulsively,  a  frown  darkening  his 
brow,  "You  need  not  have  said  that,  for  I  knew 
as  much." 

"  But  you  do  not  know  «//,  Thad.  If  you  did,  I 
know  you  would  not  judge  me  harshly.  It  was 
not  my  fault  that  Mr.  Morrison  was  there  first  the 
other  night  Will  you  come  again — just  once  ?" 

This  was  said  so  earnestly  and  so  pleadingly, 

279 


280  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

that  his  resentment  vanished  like  a  cloud  of  mist, 
and  he  replied,  with  a  sigh  of  relief,  a  smile  chas- 
ing the  frown  from  his  face : 

"  If  it  will  please  you." 

11  It  will.     Do  come !     To-night?" 

"Yes — as  far  as  I  now  know." 

"Do.*" 

With  that,  and  a  backward  glance  and  a  smile, 
she  hurried  out  the  door,  and  was  on  the  street 
before  Thaddeus  realized  that  he  had  violated  a 
solemn  pledge  made  to  himself, — that  he  would 
not  for  any  consideration  call  at  Judge  Tracy's 
again. 

"Fool  that  I  am!"  he  said,  in  smothered 
tones,  as  he  resumed  his  seat  at  the  desk. 
"Why  didn't  I  say  «0,  and  be  done  with  it?" 

"Too  late  for  this  week's  paper?"  Wendell 
inquired  as  he  walked  in,  holding  up  to  view  a 
communication. 

"I  guess  not,  if  not  too  long;  though  we 
must  go  to  press  in  an  hour  or  two." 

"It  is  not  long.  Since  you  were  not  at  the 
meeting,  I  have  given  you  a  little  account  of  my 
speech  at  the  rally  the  other  day.  Great  crowd, 
and  a  fine  time!  I  talked  for  an  hour  and  a 
quarter,  and  made  the  fur  fly,  I  tell  you !  Say, 
Thad,  you  must  be  with  us  next  time." 

"  I  have  been  planning  to  go,"  Thaddeus  an- 
swered, quietly,  but  feeling  very  wretched  at 


VIE  WS  AND  INTER  VIE  WS.  28 1 

the  thought  of  the  misery  of  the  hour  when  he 
should  see  Wendell  and  Miss  Josie  the  leading 
spirits  where  he  had  so  long  been  in  chief  com- 
mand, and  she  his  willing  assistant! 

"  That 's  right.  I  want  you  to  be  there  ;  for 
I  know  you  can  report  my  speech  so  much  bet- 
ter than  I  can.  Say!"  and  Morrison  grew  very 
confidential,  lowering  his  voice  to  a  whisper, 
and  drawing  a  chair  close  up  to  the  editor's 
desk.  "Make  the  Banner  speak  in  its  well- 
known  convincing  and  entertaining  style  of  my 
candidacy  for  Congress,  and  you  will  lose  noth- 
ing by  it  when  I  get  there !  Say,  Throckmorton, 
you  deserve  something  nice  for  your  faithful 
services  the  past  six  or  eight  years.  How 
would  you  like  to  be  consul  at  Callao,  or  some 
such  place?  I  will  get  that  for  you,  if  I  am 
elected.  Shall  I?" 

"  But  if  not  elected,  then  what  am  I  to  get 
for  the  Banner's  service?"  he  asked,  with  a 
forced  smile,  half  jokingly  and  half  in  earnest. 

"By  Jupiter!"  Morrison  exclaimed,  rising 
hastily,  "get  what  the  rest  of  us  get — a  chance 
to  pocket  defeat,  and  try  again!" 

Thaddeus  saw  that  Morrison  was  offended  at 
his  question,  and  so  said  in  a  conciliatory 
manner. 

"But  we  will  not  anticipate  any  such  trouble. 
You  will  be  elected,  of  course,  if  nominated ;  and 


282  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

nominated  snrely,  if  everybody  proves  true  to 
you.  The  Banner  never  deserts  the  party." 

"That  is  so,  Throcky.  The  Banner  has 
never  deserted  its  principles,"  Morrison  an- 
swered, in  a  kinder  tone,  and  then  said,  refer- 
ring to  the  communication  he  had  brought  in : 
"You  may  think  it  a  trifle  strong,  the  way  I 
speak  there  of  my  speech,  but  it  was  remarked 
on  all  sides  that  the  like  had  never  been  heard 
in  this  county  before.  One  thing  pkased  the 
boys,  and  that  was  when  I  excoriated  the 
Church.  Put  it  in  just  as  I  have  written  it,  and 
be  sure  to  be  at  our  next  one  yourself.  I  '11  not 
forget  you  when  I  go  to  Washington.  Father 
and  the  President  were  old  army  chums,  and 
that  will  help.  Father  was  on  his  staff"  at  the 
close  of  the  war." 

"The  knave!"  Thaddeus  said,  with  a  stamp 
of  his  foot,  though  the  word  was  muttered 
under  his  breath,  as  he  glared  after  Wendell 
when  he  had  gone.  "  Yes,  I  will  put  it  in  just 
as  it  is  written,  and  I  will  be  at  the  next  meet- 
ing; and  I  will  make  the  Banner  bright  with 
puffs  for  his  congressional  aspirations ;  and  I 
will  retire  from  Judge  Tracy's,  and  will  do 
many  other  servile  things,  all  for  the  chauce  of 
political  preferment  for  myself!  He  shall  not 
know  that  I  have  the  secret  of  his  scheming!" 

The  more  Thaddeus  meditated  upon  the  sit- 


VIEWS  AND  INTERVIEWS.  283 

nation,  the  firmer  became  his  determination  to 
cast  sentiment  and  devotion  to  the  winds  until 
after  the  election,  and  to  be  a  cold,  calculating, 
astute  politician.  "  In  that  form  I  will  go  and 
call  on  Miss  Tracy  to-night,"  he  said,  pushing 
his  chair  aside,  and  hurrying  to  the  case  to  "set 
up "  Wendell's  eulogy  of  his  own  speech ;  for 
the  printers  were  behind,  and  the  Banner  must 
come  out  on  time!  By  an  heroic  struggle 
through  the  rest  of  the  day,  Thaddeus  kept  his 
heart  in  the  prison-house  of  his  political  aspira- 
tions, and  shut  love  up  in  the  dark  dungeon  of  his 
self-control!  With  such  prisoners  in  his  breast 
he  called  at  Judge  Tracy's,  and  was  received 
smilingly  by  Miss  Josie.  He  was  not  himself 
at  all.  He  was  certainly  another  person.  He 
dared  not  glance  in  the  mirror  as  he  stood  be- 
fore the  hall-tree  a  moment  before  entering  the 
parlor,  whither  Miss  Tracy  led  the  way,  for  fear 
he  would  be  alarmed  by  his  changed  counte- 
nance. He  wondered  if  Miss  Tracy  did  not  no- 
tice the  difference.  Perhaps  she  did  ;  but  if  so, 
she  made  no  sign  of  surprise.  Of  one  thing  he 
was  certain  :  He  was  a  heartless  man ;  for  was 
not  his  heart  in  prison  ?  He  was  sure  it  was ; 
for  he  could  feel  its  th robbings  through  the 
thin  walls  of  its  hastily-constructed  ward!  He 
was  a  loveless  man ;  for  his  love  was  fast  asleep 
in  the  dark  dungeon !  •  Fast  asleep  ?  There  he 


284  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

was  wrong;  for  it  was  the  cry  of  love  he  heard, 
faint  indeed,  but  very  distinct,  as  he  watched 
the  gleam  of  a  ring  which  Miss  Josie  turned 
round  and  round  on  her  ringer.  She  had  on 
but  one  that  night,  though  she  usually  wore 
several,  and  that  one  was  his  gift  to  her.  It  had 
never  been  returned,  nor  had  he  ever  thought  to 
ask  for  it,  though  it  was  the  token  of  their 
plighted  love !  Was  she  toying  with  it  to  re- 
mind him  that  she  yet  wore  it — and  wore  it  to 
the  discarding  of  all  others?  Surely  not  for  that 
purpose;  for  her  voice  was  gay  and  her  eyes  were 
bright — not  a  suspicion  of  regret  in  a  single 
gleam  that  flashed  upon  him. 

What  could  Thaddeus  do  with  heart  and  love 
both  bound  with  chains  that  night?  Do!  He 
could  play  the  politician,  and  plan  for  success. 
He  could  show  Miss  Tracy  that  he  was  a  man 
now,  and  not  the  foolish  youth  who  had  lost  his 
heart  to  her! 

And  that  he  did — and  more !  What  if  Seth 
Russell  had  been  hiding  in  the  depths  of  the 
window!  Would  not  his  old  heart  beat  wildly 
in  admiration  for  the  heroism  of  his  friend's  son? 
But  Seth  was  not  hiding  there.  He  was  else- 
where, and  on  an  errand  of  mercy. 

"Mr.  Morrison  tells  me,"  Miss  Josie  said, 
brightly,  "that  you  have  agreed  to  go  to  our 
next  meeting:." 


VIEWS  AND  INTERVIEWS.  285 

"Did  Morrison  tell  you  that?  Well,  it  is 
true ;  but  I  wish  Mr.  Outwright  had  told  you, 
for  I  promised  him  to  go  before  I  saw  Morrison ; 
and  I  would  rather  you  would  believe  that  I 
yielded  to  Mr.  Outwright's  persuasion,  and  not 
to  Morrison's  dictation." 

"Why?"  This  was  said  with  a  deep  ques- 
tioning from  the  eyes;  but  Thaddeus  did  not 
heed  the  silent  inquiry,  seeing  that  love  was 
locked  up,  so  he  answered  carelessly : 

"  For  no  reason,  except  that  I  believe  in  be- 
stowing honor  where  honor  is  due,  if  I  may  be 
so  bold  as  to  assume  that  any  one  is  honored  by 
having  me  yield  to  his  influence." 

"O!"  she  replied,  with  a  little  sigh,  "I 
thought  there  might  be  some  oilier  reason.  But 
what  you  say  is  quite  natural  and  proper." 

"Thank  you !  I  am  in  the  race  for  the  Sen- 
ate, and  mean  to  win  if  hard  work  and  serious 
planning  can  carry  me  through.  From  now  on 
there  is  to  be  no  play  where  I  am.  I  know  what 
I  have  to  contend  against,  and  mean  to  be  a 
man!" 

Thaddeus  was  surprised  at  himself,  and  not 
a  little  ashamed.  There  he  was  before  Miss 
Tracy,  a  non- voter,  and  a  person  without  polit- 
ical influence,  boasting  of  his  manliness  and  of 
his  courage.  Why  should  he  speak  so  loud,  and 
with  such  a  show  of  bravado?  Why,  indeed, 


286  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

except  to  drown  the  voices  calling  to  him  from 
their  narrow  and  uncomfortable  prison-cells? 

"What  makes  you  speak  so  loud?"  Miss 
Josie  asked,  quietly,  smiling  in  genuine  amuse- 
ment at  his  defiant  air.  "  Are  you  practicing 
for  the  campaign  next  month?" 

"  Beg  pardon !  Does  my  voice  sotmd  loud 
to  you?  It  did  to  me;  but  I  thought  it  was 
due  to  this  cold  I  have  taken." 

14  Perhaps  it  is.  But  say,  Thad,  papa  says 
you  have  no  opposition  for  the  State  Senate, 
since  Mr.  Morrison  declines  to  run.  It  was  so 
kind  in  him  to  withdraw  in  your  favor." 

"Certainly  it  was.  Mr.  Morrison  is  a  very 
kind  man.  But  of  course  you  know,  Miss  Josie, 
that  a  man  can  not  be  a  State  senator  and  a 
congressman  at  one  and  the  same  time.  I  am 
willing  to  concede  to  Mr.  Morrison  all  the  praise 
he  deserves  for  withdrawing  from  the  race 
against  me;  but  the  larger  prize  he  seeks 
must  be  awarded  some  influence  in  his  action." 

44  Perhaps  your  friends  have  induced  him  to 
seek  the  other  prize,  and  to  leave  this  to  you?" 

"  Not  at  all  impossible,  but  very  improbable  !" 

"I  hope  you  count  me  your  friend 'f" 

"  It  is  an  honor  and  a  pleasure  that  I  am 
proud  to  acknowledge." 

"  I  hope  you  will  believe  that  I  have  some 
influence  with  Mr.  Morrison." 


VIE  WS  AND  INTER  VIE  WS.  287 

44  Too  much,  by  far !"  Thaddeus  said,  hastily, 
and  with  such  a  manner  of  expression  that  he 
quite  lost  self-control,  and  his  heart  was  in  his 
throat  in  a  second. 

"  Do  not  say  that — especially  when  my  in- 
fluence has  been  used  for  your  benefit" 

"  Political,  you  mean,  of  course,  Miss  Tracy," 
Thaddeus  said,  recovering  self-control  quickly. 

"  That,  at  least" 

Then  they  talked  briskly  and  cheerfully  of 
temperance,  of  charitable  work,  of  social  events, 
and  finally  came  back  to  politics,  Thaddeus  all 
the  while  acting  the  part  he  had  assumed,  and 
keeping  all  thought  of  the  relations  between 
them  in  the  background.  Not  until  he  arose  to 
go,  and  when  she  offered  him  her  hand  in  say- 
ing good-night,  did  he  permit  himself  to  allude 
to  their  engagement  even  most  remotely.  Then, 
as  if  to  test  her,  to  sound  the  depths  of  her 
heart,  to  discover  her  real  desire,  he  said,  with 
what  carelessness  he  could  summon,  assuming  a 
matter-of-fact  air :  "  Miss  Josie,  would  you  let 
me  take  that  ring  you  have  on?" 

"  Certainly,  if  you  wish  it ;"  and  before  he 
could  add  a  word  or  explain  his  intention,  the 
ring  was  in  his  hand,  while  his  friend  smiled 
upon  him  brightly,  though  he  thought  he  de- 
tected a  quiver  of  the  lip,  but  was  not  sure- 

Awkwardly,  holding  the  ring  still  in  his  ex- 


288  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

tended  and  open  hand,  he  stepped  back,  bowed 
himself  out,  and  heard  the  door  close  softly  be- 
hind him,  as  if  reluctantly  shutting  him  away 
from  that  parlor  and  that  heart 

"  I  hope  I  will  not  meet  Seth  to-night,"  he 
said  to  himself.  "  I  feel  like  a  traitor !  Whom 
have  I  betrayed?  Myself  or  Seth?  Am  I  right, 
or  am  I  wrong?  Does  pride,  or  does  passion 
control  me  ?  Be  brave,  good  heart !  I  have  won 
the  battle  to-night !  And  yet  another  stick  vic- 
tory would  ruin  me.  I  have  lost  more  than  I 
have  gained.  I  went  there  clear-headed,  fully 
persuaded  as  to  myself!  I  am  going  away  con- 
fused, and  undecided  whether  my  fortune  is  in 
her  keeping  or  in  the  hands  of — Seth  Russell !" 

"Who  calls  me?" 

With  a  start  of  surprise,  Thaddeus  turned 
about  to  see  his  friend  at  his  heels. 

"  Did  some  one  call  you  ?"  Thaddeus  asked, 
as  they  moved  on  together. 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  I  felt  called  to  come  out 
and  meet  you  to-night — you  or  some  other  dis- 
tressed soul.  It  must  be  you,  seeing  you  are  the 
first  I  have  met.  And  does  your  heart  bear  up, 
son  of  my  beloved?" 

"Not  as  I  wish;  not  as  I  wish!" 

"A  divided  house  can  not  stand,  nor  a  divided 
heart.  First  of  all,  settle  the  heart.  Success 
can  come  only  to  a  true  heart.  A  true  heart  is 


VIE  WS  AND  INTER  VIE  WS.  289 

a  whole  heart.  Have  only  one  door  to  the  heart, 
and  only  one  chamber!  Who  enters  must  be 
sure  that  no  other  hides  in  some  unknown 
recess." 

"  But,  Seth,"  Thaddeus  said,  musingly,  "  sup- 
pose the  head  and  the  heart  do  not  agree, 
what—" 

"Follow  your  heart.     Out  of  the  heart  are 
the  issues  of  life.     The  head  is  only  the  private 
secretary.     A   secretary   may   make   a  mistake. 
It  so,  the  heart  can  correct  it  on  sight" 
19 


XXVII. 

A  PROPOSAL  OF  MARRIAGE. 

V I  THE  next  meeting  in  the  temperance  move- 
-£-  ment  was  a  more  decided  success  in  point 
of  attendance,  in  enthusiasm,  and  in  excellence 
of  program  than  the  preceding  one.  For  some 
reason  every  class  of  people  was  interested. 
Ministers  of  various  Churches,  lawyers  of  noto- 
riety, physicians  and  merchants,  farmers  and 
town-people,  young  and  old,  crowded  to  the 
township  meetings  with  such  unanimity  as  to 
make  one  believe  that  drunkenness,  and  espe- 
cially the  open  traffic  in  intoxicants,  could  not 
continue  one  week  in  that  county.  Such  un- 
precedented enthusiasm  did  not  fail  visibly  to 
affect  the  bearing  of  the  new  factor  in  the  move- 
ment, who,  because  he  was  a  new  factor,  took  to 
himself  all  the  credit  for  the  attendance  and  the 
apparent  interest  of  the  masses.  From  being  a 
rather  reluctant  participant  and  a  questioning 
follower,  he  suddenly  emerged  into  the  leader, 
not  to  say  dictator,  of  the  movement,  taking  the 
management  out  of  Miss  Josie's  hands,  making 
changes  in  the  program,  and  in  other  ways  as- 
serting his  personality  until  all  spoke  of  the 
290 


A  PROPOSAL  OF  MARRIAGE.  291 

gatherings  as  "  Morrison's  meetings."  And  so 
in  fact  they  were.  They  were  Morrison's  be- 
cause he  controlled  them,  and  they  were  Morri- 
son's because  he  used  them  to  further  his  own 
ends.  Nevertheless  all  that  did  not  affect  the 
attendance,  nor  diminish  the  interest.  It  was 
quite  the  thing,  all  that  summer,  for  the  people 
to  put  up  dinner  in  baskets,  and  spend  one  day, 
every  two  weeks,  in  the  woods,  giving  heed 
to  Morrison's  eloquence  and  Trockmorton's 
singing. 

When  Morrison  spoke,  the  people  applauded, 
and  cheered  lustily  when  he  had  finished,  and 
there  the  matter  ended.  When  Throckmorton 
sang,  the  people  were  silent  as  the  grave;  but 
when  he  had  finished,  they  cheered  and  cheered, 
again  and  again,  and  would  not  be  content  until 
he  had  sung  another  and  another  song;  and 
there  the  matter  begun,  instead  of  ending,  as  in 
Morrison's  case.  Mothers  and  fathers  went 
home,  thanking  God  for  such  an  example  for 
their  sons,  and  praying  a  blessing  upon  the 
head  of  one  who  preached  and  practiced  a  cor- 
rect life.  Young  men  went  home,  secretly  to 
model  their  habits  after  Throckmorton,  and  to 
sing  as  best  they  could,  at  smaller  gatherings, 
the  songs  he  made  popular  at  the  Morrison 
meetings;  while  young  ladies  left  the  rallies 
determined  to  urge,  by  many  a  hint  and  open 


292  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

declaration,   their  brothers   and    friends   to   be- 
come Throckmortons  in  life. 

And  yet,  in  all  he  did,  Thaddeus  did  not  seek 
his  own.  His  attendance  upon  the  meetings 
was  a  personal  sacrifice  all  around.  It  took 
him  from  his  business ;  it  threw  him  into  un- 
pleasant contact  with  Morrison,  whose  sincerity 
he  had  great  reason  to  doubt ;  it  opened  afresh 
the  slowly-healing  wound  that  Miss  Josie's  con- 
duct had  caused ;  it  put  him  in  association  with 
Miss  Jessup  so  constantly  and  so  publicly  that 
he  was  annoyed  by  frequent  jocular  references 
to  it  by  inconsiderate  youth  and  unkind  adults. 
It  was  only  because  he  had  promised  Mr.  Out- 
wright,  and  had  listened  to  the  entreaty  of  Seth 
Russell,  that  he  started  into  the  work.  It  was 
because  a  great  desire  seized  upon  him,  after 
the  first  meeting,  to  put  some  soul  into  a  move- 
ment which  threatened  to  go  to  seed  prema- 
turely, and  really  to  uplift  the  community,  that 
he  persisted  in  the  campaign,  submitting  grace- 
fully and  patiently  to  the  almost  insufferable 
dictatorialness  of  Morrison.  That  he  was  an 
attraction  never  entered  his  mind.  That  he 
would  gain  votes  in  the  Convention,  did  not 
form  any  portion  of  his  calculations.  An  ardent 
advocate  of  temperance  from  principle,  he 
rushed  into  this  field  with  self-sacrificing  ardor, 
because  it  was  an  opening  he  had  long  coveted. 


A  PROPOSAL  OF  MARRIAGE.  293 

That  his  singing  was  effective,  he  did  not  doubt; 
but  with  strange  blindness  he  did  not  see  from 
what  earthly  source  carne  his  strength ;  nor  did 
he  recall  how  perfectly  his  voice  and  Jennie 
Jessup's  blended  as  she  sang  with  him  in  duets; 
nor  did  he  count  the  delicacy  of  conception  nor 
the  perfectness  of  touch  with  which  she  accom- 
panied his  solo  singing  with  the  organ,  giving 
a  clear  field  when  he  was  strong,  and  supporting 
with  full  organ  his  weak  places.  He  remem- 
bered, but  did  not  sufficiently  value,  her  labor 
in  going  through  a  mass  of  vocal  selections 
every  day  to  find  something  new  and  striking 
that  just  suited  his  voice.  He  knew  that  she 
had  something  ready  at  every  rehearsal,  and 
that  she  never  failed  to  select  just  the  thing ; 
but  he  did  not  stop  to  consider  what  labor  had 
been  gone  through  with  to  secure  it.  He  did 
not  know — for  he  could  net  see,  and  no  one  took 
pains  to  tell  him — how  her  mood  changed  with 
his  in  his  singing,  and  how  her  eyes,  her  mouth, 
her  whole  countenance,  indexed,  unmistakably, 
the  pathos,  the  po\\er,  the  sadness,  or  the  sweet- 
ness, of  the  song  he  sung.  He  did  not  know 
how  there  was  no  other  person  for  her  in  all 
that  great  mass  of  people,  while  he  was  before 
them  singing.  He  did  not  know  how,  nightly, 
she  pleaded  passionately  at  the  Throne  for  his 
success,  though  she  believed  all  the  time  that 


294  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

his  heart  was  pledged  to  another.  She  did  not, 
after  the  first  rehearsal,  allow  herself  to  give  the 
slightest  significance  to  his  considerate  atten- 
tions and  little  kindnesses,  knowing  he  was,  in 
the  nobility  of  his  soul,  devoting  himself  to  the 
work  in  hand  for  his  love  of  it,  staying  away 
from  Miss  Tracy  only  that  her  cousin  Wendell 
might  be  won  to  a  life  of  sobriety  and  usefulness. 

The  final  meeting  of  the  series  was  to  be  at 
home,  in  the  Brambleville  music-hall,  and  a 
crush  of  people  was  expected. 

It  was  within  one  day  of  that  meeting,  and 
Wendell  was  at  Judge  Tracy's  home,  in  consulta- 
tion with  Miss  Josie  about  some  details  of  the 
gathering — or  rather,  was  there  to  give  his  orders 
concerning  the  details,  quite  satisfied  to  leave  the 
execution  of  his  plans  to  her. 

"Miss  Josie,"  he  said,  with  a  seriousness 
and  a  depth  of  feeling  which  he  could  simulate 
to  perfection  on  demand,  u  with  sincere  regret  I 
reach  the  end  of  this  campaign.  I  will  not 
longer  disguise  from  you  the  pleasure  I  have  had 
in  this  work  because  it  is  yours.  It  has  been  a 
delight  to  do  your  bidding,  I  will  not  withhold 
longer  a  confession  I  have  longed  to  make,  but 
dared  not  until  now.  I  have  kept  the  pledge.  I 
have  not  touched  a  drop  of  intoxicants  since  we 
exchanged  pledges  that  night  You  have  been 
my  strength  and  my  stay.  But  after  to-morrow 


A  PROPOSAL  OF  MARRIAGE.  295 

night  this  delightful  and  helpful  association  will 
cease — I  fear.  I  tremble  for  myself,  nnaided  by 
you.  How  like  a  tower  of  strength  you  have 
been  to  me,  let  my  successful,  my  first  success- 
ful, keeping  of  the  pledge  answer !  Miss  Josie, 
dare  I  hope  you  will  not  cast  me  off  to  go  to  the 
bad  ?  By  the  memory  of  these  weeks  of  victory 
together,  I  beg  you  to  let  me  be  your  servant 
longer — even  for  life !" 

He  took  her  hand  in  his.  She  made  a  slight 
movement  to  withdraw  it ;  but,  his  clasp  tighten- 
ing, she  permitted  him  to  retain  it  for  a  moment, 
saying,  with  genuine  embarrassment  and  confu- 
sion, for  his  declaration  was  wholly  unexpected 
at  that  time : 

"I  do  not  quite  understand  you,  I  fear,  Mr. 
Morrison." 

"  I^et  me  be  candid,  then,  and  let  me  be  clear. 
Miss  Josie,  will  you  be  my  wife  ?" 

Withdrawing  her  hand  from  his,  she  sat  a  mo- 
ment silent,  and  then  said,  very  slowly,  and  with- 
out any  sign  of  emotion  : 

"I  understand  you  now.  You  honor  me,  I 
am  sure.  You  would  not  want  me  to  answer  you 
hastily.  It  is  a  very  sacred  relation — that  of 
wife — Mr.  Morrison.  I  could  never  marry  where 
I  do  not  love  devotedly.  It  is  sweet  to  me  to 
hear  you  say  I  have  helped  you  keep  the  pledge. 
It  is  very  flattering  to  me  to  have  you  say  your 


296  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

hope  of  future  success  is  in  my  acceptance  of 
your  offer.  But  would  marriage  without  the 
heart  be  marriage  at  all?" 

"Certainly,  certainly,  Miss  Tracy.  The  courts 
nowhere  inquire  into  the  question  of  sentimental 
attachment.  The  only  point  to  be  decided  is, 
whether  the  marriage  contract  has  been  legally 
celebrated  and  recorded.  But  in  this  case,  Miss 
Josie,  I  have  been  led  to  believe  the  heart  was 
not  untouched." 

"I  am  sure,  Mr.  Morrison,  that  no  one  could 
be  thrown  into  your  company,  as  I  have  been 
during  the  past  few  weeks,  without  being  com- 
pelled to  admire  your  brilliant  talents  as  an  or- 
ganizer and  as  an  orator,  and  to  concede  your 
perfect  observance  of  all  requirements  of  polite 
society.  But  I  am  not  ready  to-night  to — to — 
say  more." 

"You  do  not  reject  me?" 

"I  do  not,  Mr.  Morrison.  My  heart  will  not 
let  me  do  that" 

"Pardon  me,  Miss  Tracy!  Under  the  cir- 
cumstances, may  I  not  presume  to  ask  you,  is 
your  heart  free  ?" 

"  If  I  should  say  it  is,  you  would  take  that  as 
notice  that  you  have  your  suit  to  win.  If  I 
should  say  it  is  «<?/,  you  would  believe  your  case 
won,  and  only  the  decision  held  in  reserve,"  she 
answered,  evasively. 


A  PROPOSAL  OF  MARRIAGE,  297 

"Ah,  I  see!"  Morrison  replied,  with  well- 
assumed  grace,  though  he  was  impatient  at  this 
dallying,  "you  are  a  worthy  daughter  of  a  worthy 
sire.  The  judge  himself  could  not  be  more  poli- 
tic. But  I  shall  consider  my  case  as  under  ad- 
visement. I  beg  you  to  remember  what  death- 
less results  await  your  decision !" 

That  was  a  restless  night  for  Miss  Josie.  She 
had  in  her  hands  the  soul  of  an  immortal  being. 
So  she  thought.  He  had  fame,  brilliant  talents, 
and  wealth.  His  family  were  of  highest  respect- 
ability. When  daylight  came,  she  was  sleeping 
from  sheer  exhaustion  and  restless  tossing.  She 
was  sleeping  because  she  had  decided  to  accept 
his  offer.  She  would  become  Mrs.  Wendell  Mor- 
rison. A  note,  dispatched  to  him  by  her  father 
as  he  went  to  the  office,  told  him  of  his  accept- 
ance by  her. 

As  for  Morrison,  that  night,  he  was  as  happy 
as  a  man  like  he  was  could  be.  He  was  as  happy 
as  he  had  been  often  before,  when  a  packed  jury 
had  speedily  reached  a  verdict  in  favor  of  his 
client — just  that  happy,  but  no  happier. 

The  next  night  there  was  the  crush  expected 
at  the  music-hall.  Every  seat  was  taken,  and 
every  available  space  occupied.  The  hour  for 
opening  came.  Mr.  Outwright,  who  was  to  offer 
prayer,  was  there ;  the  mayor  of  Brambleville, 
who  was  to  preside,  was  on  the  platform ;  the 


298  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

chorus  of  singers,  Thaddeus,  and  Miss  Jessup, 
were  in  their  places ;  and  only  Miss  Josie  and 
Wendell  needed  to  come  to  make  the  company 
complete.  Miss  Josie  was  waiting  for  her  escort, 
wondering  just  how  it  would  seem  to  go  with 
him,  now  that  he  was  her  accepted  lover. 

"It  is  his  way,"  Thaddeus  whispered,  to  Mr. 
Outwright.  "  He  will  come  in  late  to  attract 
more  attention.  Suggest  to  the  chairman  that 
we  have  the  opening  numbers — the  chorus,  the 
prayer,  and  the  next  song.  By  that  time  he  will 
be  here — if  he  is  coming." 

"You  do  not  think  he  would  fail  to  come  to 
tins  magnificent  audience,  do  you?"  Mr.  Out- 
wright asked,  incredulously. 

"I  do  not  know.  I  am  afraid  he  would  if  he 
wanted  to." 

The  chairman  did  as  suggested,  and  yet  it  fell 
to  Mr.  Outwright  to  bridge,  with  a  few  impromptu 
remarks,  the  gap  left  by  Wendell's  non-appear- 
ance between  the  song  and  his  speech. 

A  half-hour  slipped  by,  and  Mr.  Outwright 
was  still  talking,  to  the  great  delight  of  the  audi- 
ence ;  but  Wendell  was  not  there,  nor  would  he 
be  that  night.  He  was  at  home — drunk  I 

Judge  Tracy  and  wife  were  in  the  hall,  having 
left  Miss  Josie  to  come  with  Wendell.  When 
they  learned  of  the  cause  of  the  failure  of  Mor- 
rison to  appear,  they  quietly  withdrew,  and  hast- 


A  PROPOSAL  OF  MARRIAGE.  299 

ened  home  to  condole  with  their  daughter  over 
the  failure  of  Morrison's  appearance  at  the  hall. 
But  she  needed  more  comfort  than  even  their 
loving  words  could  impart.  The  wound  was 
deeper  than  they  surmised,  and  was  of  a  differ- 
ent character. 

And  yet  she  bore  it  bravely.  She  did  not 
weep,  nor  moan,  nor  charge  any  one  rashly.  She 
was  silent — so  silent  and  uncommunicative  that 
Mrs.  Tracy  was  greatly  alarmed. 

"  Do  not  worry,  mamma  dear.  I  will  be  my- 
self by  and  by,"  she  said,  quietly,  with  pallid 
lips  and  trembling  voice.  Then  she  asked :  "  Was 
Thad  there?" 

"Yes,  of  course,  dear;  but  for  him  I  fear  the 
meeting  would  have  been  a  failure  certainly. 
But  it  was  not  It  was  a  great  success.  He  does 
sing  so  magnificently  I" 

"Jennie  was  there?"  she  asked  again. 

"Yes;  but  seemed  very  sad.  I  wonder  if 
she  knew  of  Wendell's  fall  before  she  came! 
Poor  girl,  she  is  so  wrapped  up  in  him !" 

"Papa,"  Josie  said,  turning  to  him  a  sad  face, 
and  speaking  in  a  voice  that  betokened  an  in- 
ward struggle  to  be  calm,  "  did  you  deliver  my 
message  to  Mr.  Morrison  this  morning?" 

"I  did  not,  daughter.  He  has  not  been  in 
the  ofHce  to-day,  nor  did  I  see  him.  It  is  in 
my  desk." 


300  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  Then,  papa,  bring  it  home  to  me  to-morrow. 
I  would  rather  he  would  not  have  it  just  yet." 

"My  dear,  do  not  be  so  sorrowful.  Such  dis- 
appointments come  to  every  life.  Even  our 
Master  did  not  escape  them.  Everybody  knows 
it  was  not  your  fault  that  he  was  not  there,  nor 
that  he  has  fallen  again." 

"Mamina,  may  I  go  to  my  room  now — and 
be  alone  awhile?  Do  not  worry  about  me.  I 
will  call  you  if  I  need  you.  I  must  think  this 
all  out.  I  do  not  see." 

"  Be  considerate,  dear.  Do  not  blame  your- 
self," Mrs.  Tracy  added,  putting  her  arm  around 
her  daughter,  and  walking  with  her  to  the  foot 
of  the  stairs. 

"Good-night,  mamma!" 

Wearily — O  so  wearily ! — Josie  climbed  the 
stairs,  grasping  the  balustrade  as  she  went  up, 
and  when  alone  in  her  own  room  sank  into  a 
rocker,  and  pondered  upon  the  folly  of  that 
night,  and  perhaps  of  the  whole  campaign, 
thankful  in  her  secret  heart  that  the  note  was 
undelivered. 


xxvin. 

AN  UNMATED  PAIR. 

T  ,,ET  no  one  suppose  that  Morrison's  return 
•— *»  to  his  habit  of  drinking  intoxicants,  or  his 
failure  to  keep  his  engagement  with  the  people 
at  the  last  rally  of  the  temperance  campaign, 
militated  against  his  political  prospects. 

Quite  the  contrary;  they  were  improved 
thereby,  and  no  one  knew  this  so  well  as  Mor- 
rison !  Indeed,  but  for  his  drunken  spree  just  at 
that  time,  and  but  for  his  failure  on  that  night, 
his  most  sanguine  political  friend  would  have 
predicted  utter  defeat  through  the  opposition  of 
the  liquor-dealers.  His  spree  revived  in  them 
their  fast-fading  hope  that  Morrison  was  playing 
a  game  with  the  temperance  people,  and  was  in 
reality  the  friend  of  the  liquor-seller  as  before. 
Even  the  temperance  element,  kind,  patient, 
and  confiding  people  that  they  are,  did  not  cast 
Morrison  overboard,  but  said  they  would  forgive 
that  one  failure;  and  to  encourage  him,  and  help 
him  back  into  their  ranks,  they  would  vote  for 
him  just  as  they  had  intended  to  do  before  his 
fall.  So  if  Morrison  should  not  be  given  what- 
ever political  office  he  asked  for,  it  would  not  be 


302  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

because  the  liquor-dealers  and  the  temperance 
people  were  divided  on  him ;  for  they  were  not ; 
but  were  most  solidly  united. 

No  wonder  Billy  Barnwell,  the  chief  of  police, 
slapped  Sam  Slim  kins  on  the  back,  and  ex- 
claimed : 

**  Great  Caesar,  Sam 4  Morrison  is  the  greatest 
schemer  on  earth !  And  he 's  got  the  grit  of 
forty-'leven  men  !  By  Jupiter !  No  other  man 
would  have  dared  go  into  that  temperance  craze 
and  hope  to  get  the  saloon  vote ;  and  no  other 
man  but  Morrison  would  'a'  gone  on  a  spree  at 
the  very  last  meeting !  But  Morrison  is  Mor- 
rison, and  there 's  none  like  him  !  He 's  got  both 
the  liquor-dealers  and  the  temperance  cranks  in 
his  pocket !" 

"He's  slick,"  Sam  said,  meditatively.  "He 
told  me  all  about  it  when  he  went  in,  so  I  ain't 
surprised." 

Of  course,  Morrison  gave  himself  to  business 
with  such  untiring  devotion  that  even  Judge 
Tracy  relented,  and  repented  of  his  promise  to 
his  wife  to  dissolve  partnership  with  Morrison 
as  soon  as  possible.  And  the  young  lawyer  ap- 
peared to  be  so  sincerely  sorry,  and  so  humble 
with  it  all — so  willing  to  be  flayed  alive,  as  it 
were,  by  her  hands — that  Miss  Josie  looked  with 
pitying  eye  upon  his  misfortune,  and,  after  sev- 
eral days'  deliberation,  gave  to  him  herself  the 


AN  UN  MATED  PAIR.  303 

note  her  father  did  not  deliver  that  eventful 
morning;  and  he  became,  after  all,  the  possessor 
of  Miss  Josie's  promise  of  marriage.  Notwith- 
standing his  privilege  to  call,  now  that  he  had 
her  promise,  and  that  in  writing,  he  did  not 
often  go  to  Judge  Tracy's,  but  excused  himself 
from  time  to  time,  when  expected,  by  pleading 
business  engagements. 

Very  soon  Miss  Josie  became  filled  with 
strange  forebodings  as  to  the  strength  of  her  in- 
fluence over  Morrison.  She  very  wisely  asked 
herself  what  could  she  do  with  him  after  mar- 
riage, if  now,  in  the  warmth  of  courtship,  he 
came  so  seldom,  and  so  easily  found  excuses  for 
not  coming  when  expected?  But  when  he  did 
come  he  was  so  entertaining,  so  considerate,  so 
full  of  confession  of  past  neglect,  and  so  abun- 
dant in  promises  of  future  fidelity,  that  she  could 
but  admire  him  even  as  she  pitied  him.  And 
yet  things  did  not  go  smoothly ;  or  rather  did 
not  move  joyously;  for  there  were  no  quarrels 
between  them.  Wendell  was  too  much  of  a 
diplomat  to  permit  such  a  thing  to  occur,  and 
Miss  Josie  was  too  refined  in  thought  and  man- 
ner to  take  part  in  any  unseemly  controversy. 
But  there  were  many  and  many  weary  stretches 
of  time  when  both  were  trying  to  their  utmost 
to  be  agreeable,  even  attractive,  and  utterly 
failed. 


304  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  I  must  be  more  lover-like,  I  suppose,"  Wen- 
dell would  say  to  himself  sometimes.  "It  is 
quite  the  proper  thing,  and  no  doubt  she  expects 
it.  I  must  not  disappoint  her." 

"  I  must  be  more  winsome,  and  must  appear 
happier  to  be  with  him,"  Josie  would  say  to  her- 
self. "  He  seems  so  uninterested  in  my  conver- 
sation. I  suppose  I  should  be  more  demonstra- 
tive, or  something." 

And  so  they  planned  what  to  say  and  what  to 
do  when  they  met,  and,  with  it  all,  called  them- 
selves lovers! 

"  I  am  intending  to  leave  on  a  business  trip 
for  a  week  or  ten  days,"  Wendell  said,  one  even- 
ing. "  I  shall  see  maiiy  new  and  interesting 
places.  Shall  I  write  you  descriptions  of  them  ?" 

"I  will  leave  that  entirely  with  yourself," 
Miss  Josie  replied,  quietly;  Wendell,  the  mean- 
while, wondering  what  she  meant  by  that  indif- 
ferent answer.  He  wished  she  had  said,  "  Please 
do?"  or,  "  Please  do  not?"  so  he  would  have 
known  her  desire.  She,  on  the  other  hand,  was 
much  annoyed,  though  she  displayed  no  vexa- 
tion, that  he  should  ask  whether  he  should 
write.  At  any  rate,  she  did  not  want  him  to 
write  to  please  her  only. 

"  I  hope  you  will  have  a  safe  trip  and  a 
speedy  return,"  she  added,  after  a  few  minutes' 
silence. 


AN  UNMATED  PAIR.  305 

*  Thank  you.  I  wish  it  were  so  you  could 
accompany  me — that  is,  I  wish  this  was  to  be 
our  wedding  tour,"  he  said,  with  more  confusion 
than  he  was  wont  to  show. 

"  Is  that  your  idea  of  such  a  tour — business 
and  pleasure  combined?  I  always  thought  it 
should  be  wholly  for  pleasure,"  she  said,  blush- 
ing; for  it  seemed  to  her  that  he  made  the  tour  a 
secondary  matter,  a  pleasant  accompaniment  to 
a  journey  of  necessity. 

"  You  quite  misunderstand,"  he  said.  "  I 
meant  to  suggest  that  my  heart  is  impatient  at 
delay.  I  was  wishing  for  a  near-by  date,  instead 
of  the  one  so  far  away." 

"  The  one  far  away  is  the  one  you  first  men- 
tioned," she  said.  "Would  you  change  it?" 

"  That  seems  to  be  best  yet ;  but  still,  do  you 
not  allow  me  the  privilege  of  wishing  for  an 
earlier  date?" 

"  I  should  be  happy  to  know  you  are  really 
impatient  of  delay.  It  is  something  to  every 
heart  to  be  longed  for." 

"  That  is  so,"  he  said,  in  a  business-like  way, 
and  rather  absent-mindedly ;  for  in  truth  he  had 
not  heard  her  last  remark.  And  then  there  was 
silence.  Presently  he  said: 

"What  do  you  admire  most  in  me,  Miss Josie?" 

"  I  can  not  say,  Mr.  Morrison,"  she  replied, 
promptly. 


306  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  Is  there  not  one  thing  more  than  another 
which  attracts  you  ?" 

"  Not  one  thing,"  she  said  slowly,  and  quickly 
added,  so  the  remark  would  not  wound,  "for 
there  are  so  many  to  be  named." 

"If  'so  many,'  do  me  the  kindness  to  name 
one — just  oner*1 

"  Please  excuse  me,  Mr.  Morrison ;  indeed,  I 
can  not  make  a  selection.  You  would  not  like 
for  me  to  insist  on  your  telling  me  what  one 
thing  in  me  attracts  you." 

"  By  Jove !  I  could  do  it  in  a  second,"  said 
Wendell,  springing  to  his  feet,  almost  forgetting, 
in  his  excitement,  where  he  was  or  in  whose 
presence.  "I  beg  pardon!"  he  said,  resuming 
his  seat.  "  But  for  a  truth,  Miss  Josie,  I  can 
name  one,  or  a  half-dozen  traits  of  character  that 
attract  me.  But  it  seems  that  not  one  reason 
can  you  give  me  for — for — I  will  not  say  loving 
me,  but  for  accepting  me." 

"  Give  me  time  to  think,  Mr.  Morrison.  Do 
not  urge  me  now.  I  will  tell  you  some  time. 
Be  patient  with  me." 

"  I  will  not  insist.  When  you  have  discovered 
it,  let  me  know ;  for  it  is  refreshing  to  be  com- 
plimented in  earnest  once  in  a  while." 

It  was  a  positive  relief  when  Judge  Tracy 
came  in  and  engaged  in  the  conversation,  drift- 
ing easily  into  politics  and  business. 


AN  UN  MATED  PAIR.  307 

"You  have  arranged  to  go  next  week  to  get 
those  deeds  signed,  have  you  not?"  the  judge 
asked. 

"Yes,  Judge.  I  win  start  Monday.  I  am 
planning,  however,  to  extend  my  trip  to  the  sea- 
board, and  wiy.  be  gone  ten  days  or  more," 

"  Very  well ;  but  get  the  deeds  signed  by  all 
the  heirs  first,  and  send  them  to  me  by  express. 
I  have  an  engagement  with  a  party  Friday  to 
close  the  sale  of  that  property,  but  I  can  not 
give  a  clear  title  without  those  signatures.  After 
that,  you  can  continue  your  journey. w 

"What  deeds,  papa?"  Josie  asked, 

"  Quit-claim  deeds  from  heirs  of  my  uncle's 
estate.  My  father,  you  know,  bought  uncle's  in- 
terest ;  but  it  was  never  properly  conveyed,  and 
now  we  must  get  the  heirs  to  quit-claim." 

"  Are  all  the  heirs  at  the  same  place  ?"  Wen- 
dell asked. 

"Yes,  all  at  Waterford ;  all  except  one  daugh- 
ter. She  went  West  years  ago,  and  is  supposed 
to  have  died  childless.  But  that  is  only  con- 
jecture. At  any  rate  she  is  not  known  to  have 
left  issue." 

"  Papa,  is  that  the  same  branch  of  the  fam- 
ily that  Tingleman's  wife  claimed  to  belong  to?" 

"Yes,  the  same;  but  she  had  not  a  scintilla 
of  proof  to  sustain  her  claim.  It  was  all  asser- 
tion, and  agreed  in  its  details  with  the  family 


308  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

history  ;  but  that  may  have  resulted  from  her 
familiarity  with  such  details  through  some  scrap 
of  published  personal  reminiscences." 

"  Speaking  of  titles  reminds  me,"  said  Wen- 
dell, "  of  a  discovery  I  made  the  other  day  while 
searching  the  records  for  another  purpose.  I 
discovered  that  Aunt  Jessup  has  never  quit- 
claimed her  interest  in  the  estate  my  father 
bought  of  the  heirs.  I  must  call  father's  atten- 
tion to  it  before  Aunt  Jessup  drops  off." 

"  Yes,  it  ought  to  be  attended  to  at  once.  I 
am  surprised  to  hear  you  say  that;  for  Major 
Morrison  is  one  of  the  most  particular  persons 
on  titles  that  I  ever  had  dealings  with." 

"  Carelessness  of  some  attorney,  doubtless, 
before  his  son  was  old  enough  to  look  after  his 
titles,"  Wendell  said,  laughingly,  knowing  full 
well  Judge  Tracy  had  always  been  his  father's 
attorney. 

"  Perhaps,"  the  other  replied,  smiling. 

"O  dear  I"  sighed  Josie,  "how  glibly  these 
men  talk  business,  and  how  animated  is  Wen- 
dell's manner  now,  compared  with  its  dullness 
a  few  minutes  ago.  I  do  believe  I  am  a  burden, 
and  he  has  taken  me  only  to  wound  Thad !" 

Not  to  wound  Thad  I  Not  that,  though  he 
would  not  have  winced  at  that  result.  Not  to 
wound  any  one,  Miss  Josie,  but  to  advance  his 
own  schemes  1  It  is  not  an  affair  of  the  heart 


AN  UNMATED  PAIR.  309 

with  him,  Miss  Josie,  but  just  a  legitimate  and 
possible  way  of  becoming  possessor  of  wealth  he 
could  not  gain  so  quickly  or  so  certainly  any 
other  way. 

And  what  did  you  accept  him  for,  Miss  Josie? 
Not  for  love  I  No,  for  your  heart  could  not  de- 
ceive you  in  that.  But  for  pity  first,  for  fame 
next,  and  for  punishment  for  your  folly  lastl 


XXIX. 

THE  CONVENTION. 

L/OR  several  weeks  Thaddeus  and  Wendell 
-V  gave  themselves  up  to  business,  endeavor- 
ing to  bring  up  work  neglected  on  account  of 
the  long  and  exciting  temperance  campaign. 
Their  friends  were  at  the  same  time  very  busy 
in  arranging  for  their  nomination  at  the  ap- 
proaching Convention.  Wendell's  men  had  the 
advantage  of  long  experience  and  unscrupulous 
methods;  but  Thaddeus's  workers  had  the 
strength  that  comes  from  heart  and  mind  united. 

When  the  day  for  the  assembling  of  the  Con- 
vention came,  everybody  was  surprised  at  the 
multitude  of  voters  who  came  to  witness  the  pro- 
ceedings, Wendell's  friends  were  not  only  sur- 
prised, but  alarmed. 

And  well  they  might  be !  He  had  not  usually 
triumphed  through  popular  uprising,  but  had  won 
his  laurels  by  crafty  scheming  and  unblushing 
bribery  in  the  primaries  and  in  the  Conventions, 
knowing  that  the  party  would  elect  the  nominee, 
whoever  he  should  be.  The  throng  of  interested 
voters  boded  no  good  for  Wendell  in  the  Conven- 
tion, though  only  regularly  chosen  delegates  might 
510 


THE  CONVENTION.  311 

vote.  Wendell  was  too  shrewd  a  political!  not  to 
discover  the  true  situation  early  in  the  day,  as  the 
streets  about  the  square  in  which  stood  the  court- 
house began  to  fill  up  with  men  from  the  rural 
districts.  He  called  to  Sam  Slimkins  from  his 
office-window,  as  the  latter  stood  below  on  the 
sidewalk  in  the  midst  of  a  group  of  laughing  men. 
As  Sam  entered  the  office  and  closed  the  door 
behind  him,  Wendell,  his  eyes  dark  with  anger 
and  his  face  set  in  hard  lines  by  his  suppressed 
wrath,  exclaimed,  with  indignation: 

"What  is  this  I  see?  The  streets  are  full  of 
voters,  and  Throckmorton  for  the  Senate  is  all  I 
hear,  go  where  I  will !  Is  it  for  this  I  have  been 
cashing  all  your  bills  these  three  months?" 

"Keep  your  temper  down,"  Sam  said,  coolly, 
in  expressive  but  inelegant  language.  "  Do  n't 
be  a  fool,  and  do  n't  die  until  your  time  comes." 

"But  what  does  it  mean?  Have  I  been 
spending  money  like  water  to  pack  a  Convention 
for  Throckmorton?  What  have  you  done?  Did 
you  lie  to  me  when  you  said  you  had  a  list  of 
delegates,  and  that  a  majority  were  for  me?" 

Wendell  was  cooler  now,  but  his  anger  was 
none  the  less  intense.  It  was  only  under  better 
control. 

"  Idiot!"  Sam  said,  sneeringly.  "  This  is  not  a 
mass  convention.  I^et  the  crowd  howl  for  Throck- 
morton. The  delegates  will  do  the  voting,  and 


312  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

the  delegates  are  ours,  I  tell  you,  and  that  by  a 
safe  majority." 

"Safe  majority!"  exclaimed  Wendell.  "I  am 
sick  to  death  to  hear  you  talk  about  safe  majority ! 
The  majority  ought  to  be  so  great  that  no  thought 
would  be  given  the  other  fellow.  It  was  for  an 
overwhelming,  a  crushing  defeat  that  I  have 
been  paying  you  money  !" 

"  Well,  a  defeat  is  a  defeat.  You  must  remem- 
ber that  we  have  h?d  no  child's  play.  Throck- 
morton  is  known  in  every  nook  and  corner  in  the 
county,  and  you  and  your  blasted  temperance 
rallies  have  made  him  better  known  than  he 
was.  I  tell  you  to  thank  your  stars  that  your 
name  is  to  be  mentioned  at  all  in  the  Conven- 
tion. Man  is  a  queer  animal  in  a  Convention. 
If  a  stampede  strikes  him,  he  is  worse  than  a 
Texas  steer.  He  will  tramp  the  life  out  of  his 
grandfather  to  get  along  with  the  crowd.  We  Ve 
got  the  delegates,  but  Throckmorton  's  got  the 
crowd." 

"  Fool !"  Wendell  said,  white  with  rage.  "  Fool ! 
Did  I  not  tell  you  that,  and  you  said  this  is  not  a 
mass  convention— only  delegates  can  vote;  and 
now  you  say  Throckmorton  has  the  crowd." 

"And  he  has !  That  was  your  plan !  You  said, 
'Let  the  primaries  instruct  for  him,  and  let  the 
delegates  be  chosen  for  me,  and  I  will  do  the  rest.' 
Now,  do  the  restl  You  will  have  your  hands 


THE  CONVENTION.  313 

fall !  Begin  to  slick  up,  and  brighten  your  mind. 
We'll  call  on  you  for  a  speech,  and  it's  for  you  to 
smash  the  instructions.  Every  precinct  has  in- 
structed for  Throckmorton,  but  we  've  got  the 
delegates — or  the  most  of  them.  They  are  your 
friends.  Now  go  in  and  bust  their  instructions, 
and  you  are  all  right.  I  have  done  my  part,  now 
you  doyottr'nf" 

"Your  part!  Your  part  seems  to  be  to  spend 
all  the  money  you  get!" 

"  Here  's  the  delegates.  Look  over  the  list. 
Count  your  friends,  and  see  if  they  are  not  in  the 
majority." 

Wendell  took  the  list  and  read  over  the  names 
of  delegates,  and,  as  he  did  so,  his  manner  soft- 
ened; for  he  saw  that  a  very  large  majority  were 
his  personal  friends,  just  such  as  he  would  have 
chosen.  Indeed,  the  list  was  almost  exactly  the 
one  he  had  made  out,  and  asked  to  have  sent  up 
as  delegates. 

"  Bully  boy, Sam!"  he  said, cheerfully.  "That's 
all  right !  I  '11  take  my  chances  with  those  fel- 
lows every  time !  Say,  have  them  understand 
that  I  '11  settle  all  bills  for  liquor  to-day.  Hold 
the  Convention  off  until  two  or  three  o'clock. 
Throckmorton's  friends  will  get  tired,  and  will 
begin  to  go  home  early.  They  are  not  the  kind 
to  hang  on." 

"All  right     1 11  see  the  Central  Committee, 


3H  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

and  get  them  to  wait  tmtil  about  three  o'clock  to 
call  the  Convention  to  order.  We  have  from  one 
to  five,  according  to  the  call.  I  do  n't  care  if  I  do," 
and  Sam  took  the  offered  cigar,  and  sanntered 
out,  leaving  Wendell  to  his  reflections.  Though 
they  had  scowled  and  howled  at  each  other  for 
ten  minutes,  they  parted  as  fast  friends  as  ever; 
Sam  to  go  out  to  smoke  and  drink  with  the 
delegates;  Wendell  to  sit  in  his  office  and  ar- 
range the  speech  he  was  to  make,  when  called 
out  in  the  Convention,  stopping  occasionally  to 
laugh  over  the  sight  of  Thaddeus,  when  he  should 
steal  the  nomination  from  him  in  a  Convention 
that  was  instructed  to  a  man  for  the  young  editor. 

The  meanwhile,  in  the  private  office  of  the  Ban- 
ner a  group  of  men  were  assembled  as  if  by  chance, 
but  they  were  there  by  agreement.  They  were 
not  astute  politicians,  but  they  were  terribly  in 
earnest,  and  counted  no  amount  of  labor  too  great 
to  insure  success,  though  unalterably  opposed  to 
bribery.  Only  one  in  the  group  was  a  stranger 
to  politics,  and  that  one  was  Mr.  Outwright, 
Thaddeus' s  pastor. 

"  This  is  new  work  for  me,"  he  laughingly  said, 
when  he  came  in ;  "  but  I  will  try  to  hold  the 
hare  while  you  men  skin  him." 

In  the  group  were  Judge  Tracy,  Charles  Chris- 
tie, Simon  Hunter,  Captain  Thompson,  and  Major 
Morrison.  The  last-named  suspected  the  treach- 


THE  CONVENTION.  315 

^iy  of  his  son  in  the  matter,  and  was  not  surprised 
when  it  was  broadly  hinted  by  others  present. 
Judge  Tracy  was  not  ignorant  of  Wendell's  plan 
to  abandon  his  Congressional  aspirations  at  the 
last  moment,  and  to  seek  the  nomination  to  the 
State  Senate;  but  as  snch  an  intention  had  not 
been  made  public,  nor  had  come  to  him  authori- 
tatively, he  felt  justified  in  working  with 
Thaddeus's  friends,  and  hence  was  present  at 
this  last  conference  before  the  Convention  as- 
sembled. 

"What  have  we  before  us?"  he  asked,  when 
all  were  assembled. 

"  Mr.  Outwright  will  speak  first,  I  believe," 
Thaddeus  said. 

"  I  am  reliably  informed,  gentlemen,"  Mr. 
Outwright  said,  "  that  a  scheme  is  on  foot  to  steal 
the  Convention  from  Thaddeus  to-day,  and  to 
give  the  nomination  to  Mr.  Morrison." 

He  paused,  and  a  death-like  silence  reigned 
in  the  room  for  a  minute  or  more.  Then  Major 
Morrison  spoke : 

"Gentlemen,  this  comes  home  to  me  quite 
naturally.  If  I  were  a  delegate  I  should  vote  for 
Thaddeus,  even  as  against  my  own  son,  for  I  be- 
lieve in  fair  play ;  and  up  to  this  time  there  has 
been  but  one  candidate  in  the  field  for  nomi- 
nation, and  he  should  have  the  fruit  of  his  labor. 
However,  I  believe  it  is  only  proper  for  me  to 


3 1 6  AN  ODD  PELLO  W. 

withdraw  from  this  conference,  that  your  plans 
may  be  unhindered  by  my  presence." 

And  he  withdrew  in  silence. 

"I  have  suspected  as  much,"  Judge  Tracy 
said,  "but  did  not  know  for  a  certainty  that  it 
was  so.  On  account  of  my  business  relations 
with  Wendell,  I  feel  that  I  must  withdraw  from 
this  conference,  though  I  am  sincere  in  wishing 
abundant  success  to  Thaddeus  in  this  aspiration. 
He  is  competent  and  worthy.  I  will  retire." 

And  he  did,  without  protest 

"A  very  proper  thing — ha!  ha! — a  very  proper 
thing — ah! — for  the  major,  and  the  judge,  too, 
for  that  matter.  Ha!  ha!  Fine  gentleman — 
ha!  ha! — both  of  them,  with — ah! — a  very  deli- 
cate sense — ha!  ha! — of  fitness  of  things.  By  the 
way — ha!  ha! — seeing  that  some  one  must  take 
the  lead — ha!  ha! — Mr.  Outwright,  what  would 
you — ah! — suggest  for  us — ah! — to  do?"  Mr. 
Christie  said,  smiling  cheerfully  upon  the  men 
who  were  yet  in  conference. 

"  I  am  not  here,  gentlemen,  to  suggest  meth- 
ods. I  am  here  to  work.  If  you  have  anything 
I  can  do,  command  me." 

"By  the  way — ah! — Thaddeus,  do  you  know 
who — ah! — that  is  to  say,  have  you  a  list  of  the 
delegates  ?  But,  of  course,  you  have — ah ! — being 
an  editor.  Ha !  ha !  Ah,  thanks !  By  the  way,  gen- 
tlemen— ha!  ha! — let  me  read  you  the  names — 


THE  CONVENTION.  317 

ah! — of  the  delegates  as  chosen — ah! — by  the 
primaries,"  Mr.  Christie  said,  taking  the  list 
Thaddeus  handed  him.  "Ah !  Mr.  Russell,"  he 
continued,  looking  up  as  the  door  opened,  and 
Seth  slipped  in,  and  took  a  seat.  "  I  suppose — 
ah  ! — gentlemen,  Mr.  Russell  is — ah ! — not  in- 
truding. Ha!  ha!" 

Seth  said  not  a  word,  nor  did  any  one  object 
to  his  presence,  so  the  reading  commenced : 

"  S.  L.  King,  Thomas  Jackson,  Robert  Mor- 
ton—" 

"Gone  to  Chicago,"  broke  in  Seth,  referring 
to  the  last-named. 

"Good!"  said  Captain  Thompson.  "He  is 
worth  ten  men,  do  n't  you  know?  Morrison  will 
miss  him  more  than  ten  men.  That  whole  dele- 
gation, do  n't  you  know,  can  be  held  to  Thad,  if 
Bob  Morton  ain't  in  it,  do  n't  you  know  ?  Count 
the  rest  of  that  township  for  Thad." 

"But — ah!  ha!  ha! — what  made  Morton  leave 
just  now?" 

Then  Seth  stood  up  and  said:  "Read  on! 
Every  now  and  anon  you  will  strike  the  name  of 
a  delegate  that  has  business  somewhere  else.  The 
eyes  of  the  Lord  are  upon  the  righteous.  His 
ears  are  open  to  the  cry  of  the  needy  1" 

And  the  reading  went  on.  From  every  town- 
ship names  were  greeted  by  Seth  with  the  re- 
mark, "Gone  to  Chicago  1" 


3i8  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

At  the  close  of  the  reading,  Captain  Thomp- 
son said: 

"It  seems  to  me,  don't  you  know,  that  about 
all  of  Morrison's  best  workers  have  gone  to  Chi- 
cago, don't  you  know?  I  do  n't  understand  it." 

"And  you  do  not  have  to  understand  it,  Cap- 
tain," Seth  said.  "  The  ways  of  the  Lord  are  past 
finding  out" 

"  Nonsense !  The  lyord  has  nothing  to  do 
with  Bramble  County  politics,  do  n't  you  know? 
Now,  if  you  had  said,  'The  devil  was  to  pay,' 
do  n't  you  know,  I  'd  have  agreed  with  you." 

"Der  Sheegawga  eggsbusition  ees  a  midedy 
beeg  ding  to  der  fellers  whad  neffer  bean  dar," 
Simon  Hunter  said,  gesticulating  impressively 
with  both  arms.  "  Ond  dare  be  gustomers  ob 
mind  dat  I  wands  der  see  it  already,  right  avay 
off  soon ;  ond  Morrison  he 's  mind  freund,  obv 
course,  ond  so  I  sends  hees  freunds,  ond  mind 
gustomers,  too,  to  see  der  eggsbusition  a  week 
or  tend  days,  already  righd  avay,  once.  Ond 
dat's  der  vay  the  devil's  ter  bay,  Cabtin!" 

"You  do  n't  mean  to  say,"  said  Mr.  Outwright, 
in  surprise,  "  that  you  have  hired  Morrison  men 
to  go  to  Chicago,  and  miss  this  Convention  ?" 

"Naw!  I  shust  remarght  dat  I  send  ad  me 
own  eggsbense  sume  gustomers  ob  mind  ter  de 
Sheegawgo  eggsbusition  1  I  fine  out  mit  mine 
freund,  Sed  Russell,  day  's  Morrison's  fretmds, 


THE  CONVENTION.  319 

doo !  Ond  I  not  wand  der  spoil  dare  drip,  so  I 
slmsht  say  dat  magdt  no  diffrunce  to  me !" 

"  Well,  well !"  said  Mr.  Outwright,  sighing 
heavily. 

But  the  rest  of  the  company  laughed  heartily, 
except  Thaddeus  and  Seth.  They  were  too  busy 
just  then  in  a  whispered  conversation  to  notice 
the  general  hilarity,  or  to  remark  the  very  satis- 
fied air  Simon  Hunter  wore,  as  he  stalked  about 
the  room,  and  examined  the  portraits  of  politi- 
cians that  hung  against  the  walls. 

"  But  what  is  to  be  done  now  ?"  Mr.  Outwright 
asked,  anxiously. 

"Nothing.  Ha!  ha!  I  suppose — ah! — only 
to  go  to  the  Convention — ha !  ha ! — and  see  Thad 
nominated  !"  Mr.  Christie  said.  "All  the  rest  of 
the  names  are  solid  for  Thad.  Ha !  ha !  It  would 
take — ah ! — a  cyclone — ha !  ha ! — to  move  the 
most  of  them — ha!  ha! — from  their  ground." 

"So  our  scare  was  for  nothing." 

"  Not  exactly,  Mr.  Outwright,"  Thaddeus  said, 
the  meanwhile  holding  Simon  Hunter's  hand  in 
his  own  tight  clasp.  "  But  my  friend,  Mr.  Hun- 
ter, had  not  told  us  of  his  interest  in  the  Chicago 
Exposition,  or  we  would  have  been  less  alarmed." 

"  But  does  n't  Wendell  know  of  the  absence  of 
his  trusted  followers,"  the  pastor  persisted. 

"  Perhaps ;  but  if  he  does,  he  can  do  nothing 
now.  His  plan  is  to  stampede  the  Convention 


320  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

by  a  brilliant  speech,  to  be  followed  by  a  rush  for 
his  nomination  by  acclamation.  Mort  Humphrey 
has  kept  me  posted.  It  can  not  be  done  !" 

"I  hope  not;  but  keep  your  powder  dry,  my 
friend,  and  do  n't  forget  to  pray,"  Mr.  Outwright 
said,  leaving  Thaddeus  and  his  friends  to  complete 
the  details  of  their  maneuvers  in  the  Convention. 

"This  beats  my  day  I"  said  a  delegate,  looking 
back  over  the  immense  throng  that  filled  the 
court-room  when  the  Convention  was  called  to 
order.  "  Such  a  crowd  to  see  one  man  nomi- 
nated without  opposition  I" 

"What  man?"  asked  a  fellow-delegate  at  his 
side. 

"  Throckmorton,  of  course.  There  is  no  other 
man  mentioned,  and  all  the  townships  have  in- 
structed for  him." 

"  Instructed  nothing !  I  was  chosen  delegate 
before  any  instructions  were  given.  I  shall  vote 
my  individual  sentiments.  I  do  n't  want  any 
psalm-singing  saint  to  represent  me  in  the  State 
Senate !" 

"  I  should  say  not !  An  imp  from  the  re- 
gions below  would  do  it  better !"  exclaimed  Setli 
Russell,  who  had  crowded  his  way  through  the 
press  and  stood  just  in  front  of  the  speaker,  as 
they  waited  for  the  gavel  to  fall  for  silence. 

"  Only  your  age  saves  you  from  punishment," 
said  the  rebuked  man,  hotly. 


THE  CONVENTION.  321 

"  Let  not  that  hinder  you !  But  say,  was  it 
five  or  only  two  dollars  that  Sam  Slimkins  gave 
you  out  in  the  lobby  ?" 

"  He  gave  me — nothing,"  the  delegate  said, 
quickly  catching  himself. 

And  so  it  was  in  every  delegation.  There 
was  one  or  more  who  objected  to  being  bound 
by  instructions.  They  were  noisy  delegates,  too. 
They  had  no  fear  of  being  heard.  When  Morri- 
son appeared  on  the  platform,  cheers  and  stamp- 
ing of  feet  greeted  him  from  every  part  of  the 
room.  He  bowed  his  acknowledgments,  and  sat 
down  with  a  bearing  born  of  a  sense  of  his  power 
to  control  his  fellows. 

After  the  Convention  had  been  organized,  the 
chairman — a  mild  and  timid  man,  with  a  soft  and 
low  voice — called  for  nominations.  There  was 
silence  for  two  seconds,  then  there  arose  a  cry 
from  every  part  of  the  room : 

"  Morrison  !    Morrison  !    Morrison  I" 

Thus  appealed  to,  he  arose,  and,  declaring  his 
purpose  to  say  but  a  few  words,  he  launched  out 
into  a  speech  that  was  marvelous  for  its  cogent 
reasoning,  its  brilliant  rhetoric,  its  flashes  of  wit, 
and  its  sweeping  torrent  of  argument.  There 
was  no  mistaking  the  outcome  of  such  an  effort. 
Its  conclusion  was  greeted  with  round  after  round 
of  applause.  The  cheering  ceased  only  to  break 

out  afresh.     The  chairman  was  helpless.     His 

ax 


322  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

voice  could  not  be  heard  in  the  roar  of  stamping 
feet,  clapping  hands,  and  pounding  of  canes. 

"  Morrison  !  Morrison  !  Morrison  !"  was 
the  cry. 

He  arose,  again  bowed  his  acknowledgment, 
and  sat  down,  during  which  time  there  was  si- 
lence, followed  immediately  by  a  wild  uproar,  in 
which  the  chairman's  gavel,  pounding  the  table, 
was  taken  as  a  part  of  the  applause,  and  not  a 
call  to  order.  It  was  a  wild  scene.  Amid  it  all, 
Thaddeus  sat  near  Morrison,  silent,  and  as  pale 
as  death.  A  fearful  struggle  was  going  on  within. 
It  required  all  the  will-power  he  possessed  to 
keep  him  from  fleeing  from  the  scene  of  his  de- 
feat and  humiliation.  Morrison  was  beaming 
with  smiles,  and  gave  no  heed  to  the  silent  rival 
at  his  side. 

"Speak,  man!  speak!"  said  a  whispered  voice 
in  his  ear.  It  was  Seth's.  "Stand  up,  and  break 
the  spell !  In  the  name  of  all  I  have  done  for 
you,  speak!" 

Instantly,  Thaddeus  was  on  his  feet  The 
storm  subsided  for  a  second,  and  burst  forth 
anew ;  but  with  less  force. 

"Mr.  Chairman!" 

His  voice  rang  out,  with  startling  clearness, 
above  the  din.  He  hardly  thought  he  could 
make  himself  heard,  and  was  surprised  to  hear 
his  own  voice  in  that  roar. 


THE  CONVENTION.  323 

There  was  a  httsh. 

"Mr.  Chairman!"  he  commenced  again,  and 
for  one  brief  space  of  time  faltered,  and  then 
said,  with  steady  tone  and  a  voice  free  from  emo- 
tion :  "  I  move  you,  sir,  that  Wendell  Morrison 
be  declared  the  choice  of  this  Convention  for 
State  Senator,  and  that  the  vote  be  by  acclama- 
tion." 

This  time  it  was  Thaddeus's  friends  who 
sprang  into  the  breach. 

"No!  no!  no!  Vote!  Ballot!  ballot!"  came 
from  all  parts  of  the  room. 

The  spell  was  broken.  Morrison's  men  were 
without  a  leader.  Sam  Slimkins  was  there  ;  but 
he  never  put  two  sentences  together  in  the  pres- 
ence of  an  audience  in  his  life,  and  was  helpless 
in  such  an  hour  as  that.  Morrison  himself  dared 
not  champion  his  own  cause,  having  publicly 
declined  to  enter  the  race,  and  Robert  Morton 
was  in  Chicago. 

"Order  a  ballot,"  Seth  said,  stepping  down  to 
the  chairman. 

"Mr.  Secretary,"  the  chairman  said,  softly, 
"  call  the  townships." 

In  stentorian  tones  the  clerk  obeyed,  and  the 
ballot  for  State  senator  was  begun,  though  no 
name  had  been  formally  presented.  The  battle 
was  on.  Not  a  township  voted  solid,  and  at 
each  township  there  was  a  delay  until  the  dele- 


324  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

gation  could  be  polled.  The  call  was  completed. 
The  secretary  hastily  figured  the  result,  jotted  it 
down  on  a  slip  of  paper,  and  handed  it  to  the 
chairman. 

"Read  it  yourself!  Read  it  yourself!"  they 
called  to  the  clerk. 

He  took  the  paper  out  of  the  chairman's 
hands,  and  read : 

"Throckmorton,  77;  Morrison,  78 1" 

There  was  a  cheer,  but  it  quickly  subsided. 

"Mr.  Chairman!"  It  was  Thaddeus  again. 
"I  move  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Morrison  be 
made  unanimous," 

It  was  so  ordered. 

Then  the  Convention  adjourned,  and  all  went 
home  sad.  Thaddeus  and  his  friends  were  sad, 
because  he  had  lost  Wendell  and  his  friends 
were  sad,  because  it  had  been  so  slight  and  so 
dearly-bought  a  victory. 

"It  is  night,  it  is  night,  son  of  my  well-be- 
loved friend,"  Seth  said,  opening  the  door  of  the 
Banner  office  noiselessly,  and  speaking  to  Thad- 
deus, who  sat  in  his  chair,  oppressed  by  his  mis- 
fortune. "It  is  night;  but  a  star  arises,  and  the 
day  is  not  distant.  I  will  retire," 

"  May  I  came  in  ?" 

Jennie  Jessup  stopped  hesitatingly  at  the  door 
which  Seth  had  that  instant  abandoned  to  make 
room  for  her. 


THE  CONVENTION.  325 

"  Do !"  said  Thaddeus,  springing  to  his  feet. 
He  advanced  to  meet  her,  and,  giving  her  his 
hand,  stood  silent,  not  daring  to  say  more  lest 
his  strong  emotion  should  quite  overcome  him. 
At  that  instant  heavy  footfalls  on  the  stair  an- 
nounced the  approach  of  several  men,  and  Jennie 
could  only  have  time  to  say  hurriedly,  as  she 
warmly  clasped  his  hand  in  hers : 

"Be  comforted!  It  is  far  better  to  deserve 
success  than  to  gain  the  day  unworthily! 
Good-bye  1" 


XXX. 

JENNIE  JESSUP. 

T~TTHAT  night  found  Thaddeus  at  Miss  Jes- 
•£-  sup's  home ;  for  he  felt  that  he  owed  it  to 
her  to  express  his  appreciation  of  her  sympathy 
and  confidence  as  manifested  by  her  call  at  his 
office,  something  he  had  been  prevented  from 
doing  at  the  time  by  the  presence  of  strangers. 
He  rang  the  bell,  and,  without  waiting  for  any 
one  to  answer,  he  stepped  inside  the  hall,  and 
was  hanging  his  hat  on  the  rack  when  Miss 
Jennie  appeared. 

"You  didn't  expect  me  to-night,  did  you?" 
he  said,  in  response  to  her  look  of  surprise. 

"  Did  not  expect  you,  certainly ;  but  you  are 
welcome,  nevertheless." 

"I  am  sure  I  am,"  he  said,  seating  himself  in 
an  easy-chair,  and  then  added :  "  This  is  my 
other  home,  you  know.  Here  I  am  as  much  at 
ease  as  in  my  mother's  home.  Queer,  is  n't  it  ? 
I  do  not  feel  that  way  anywhere  else  in  town." 

"That  is  a  compliment   that  I  appreciate,  as 
does  my  mother,"  Jennie  said,  blushing  in  spite 
of  her  effort  not  to  do  so  j  "  though  I  believe  it- 
is  not  a  new  one." 
326 


JENNIE  fESSUP.  327 

"Hardly,"  Thaddeus  said,  not  noticing  Jen- 
nie's embarrassment;  "for  I  just  now  recall  that 
that  is  my  usual  preliminary  remark  here.  It 
takes  the  place  of  saying,  '  The  weather  is  fine 
for  this  time  of  the  year.' " 

"I  am  surprised,  but  delighted,  to  find  you 
so  cheerful  after  the  Convention.  I  suppose  you 
thought  it  strange  for  me  to  call  at  your  office. 
It  was  a  little  bit  unwomanly  perhaps ;  but  I 
presumed  upon  old  acquaintanceship ;  and,  be- 
sides, I  thought  a  word  then  would  count  more 
than  a  score  later  on — after  everybody  had  ex- 
pressed sympathy,  or  you  had  recovered  from 
your  disappointment." 

"That  is  true.  You  surprised  me  by  coming; 
but  I  did  not  think  it  strange,  and  certainly  not 
unwomanly.  Our  long-standing  friendship,  our 
recent  campaign  together  in  the  temperance 
work,  not  to  mention  the  memory  of  our  school- 
days,— all  made  it  seem  very  natural.  I  came 
to-night  purposely  to  tell  you  how  very  kind  it 
was  in  you  to  do  that  very  thing !  You  are 
still  the  whole-hearted  and  sensible  girl  you 
were,  Jennie,  when  we  were  pupils  in  the  old 
academy." 

"I  am  so  glad  you  do  not  take  your  defeat  to 
heart,"  she  replied,  earnestly. 

"Do  you  know,  I  am  surprised  at  myself? 
At  first  I  was  crushed.  When  the  first  cyclone 


AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

of  applause  broke  upon  the  Convention,  and  I 
saw  what  a  hold  Morrison  had  on  the  masses,  I 
choked  with  grief,  and  was  strangled  with  fear. 
Nor  did  I  get  any  relief  until  I  stood  on  my  feet, 
and  moved  his  nomination." 

"Did  you  do  that?"  she  exclaimed  in  aston- 
ishment, interrupting  him. 

"Certainly.  It  was  the  proper  thing  to  do, 
though  it  cost  me  a  fierce  struggle  with  pride. 
I  got  my  reward,  however,  in  the  ballot.  He 
was  chosen  by  only  one  majority ;  and  if  I  had 
not  spoken,  or  if  I  had  not  moved  his  nomina- 
tion, I  believe  he  would  have  carried  the  Con- 
vention by  storm,  and  I  would  not  have  been 
mentioned.  As  it  was,  we  measured  strength, 
and,  to  my  delight  and  his  chagrin,  it  was  almost 
a  drawn  battle.  But  I  was  down — away  down — 
when  you  came.  I  felt  that  I  would  quit  the 
town  at  once  and  forever." 

"As  your  father  did,"  Jennie  said,  medita- 
tively, at  that  instant  studying  the  carpet,  and 
not  Thaddeus's  face.  Had  she  not  been,  she 
would  have  seen  the  light  fade  from  his  counte- 
nance before  the  swift-moving  cloud  of  distress 
that  swept  across  his  memory.  For  several  sec- 
onds there  was  silence,  when  he  said,  slowly  and 
sadly : 

"  An  inherited  weakness  1" 


JENNIE  JESSUP.  329 

And  when  her  eyes  questioned  his,  and  he 
saw  the  regretful  look  on  her  face,  he  added : 

"This  fleeing  from  a  shadow,  I  mean.  But  / 
didn't  go,  Jennie.  Give  me  credit  for  that." 

"  Pardon  me !  I  should  not  have  said  that. 
I  did  not  mean  to.  Mother  was  talking  to  me, 
just  before  you  came  in,  and  it  was  in  my  mind ; 
for  she  alluded  to  it  I  know  how  it  distresses 
you.  I  will  not  refer  to  it  again." 

"But,  as  I  was  saying,"  Thaddeus  went  on, 
"  I  was  feeling  very  despondent  when  you  came. 
Seth  was  at  the  door  just  before  you,  and,  in  his 
peculiar  way,  comforted  me ;  and  then  your  com- 
ing was  like  a  burst  of  sunshine  on  a  rainy 
spring  day." 

"  Thank  you !  You  are  truly  complimentary 
to-night,"  she  said,  quietly. 

"  It  is  no  compliment,  Jermie  Jessup,"  he  re- 
plied, adopting  a  form  of  address  that  carried 
them  both  back  to  their  school-days,  and  their 
long,  long  ago  love  affair.  "  I  would  despise 
myself  to  speak  compliments  merely  at  such  a 
time.  I  am  in  earnest.  You  will  not  know  what 
you  saved  me  from — you  and  Seth.  I  was  at 
the  verge  of  an  awful  step — a  cowardly  step — a 
disgraceful  step.  Every  true  man  must  feel  it 
to  be  a  disgrace  to  flee  from  duty  because  he 
must  suffer  if  he  stays.  Your  words — 'It  is 


330  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

better  to  deserve  success  and  fail  than  to  succeed 
and  deserve  failure' — were  as  a  trumpet  blast 
arousing  me ;  and  your  manner,  Jennie  Jessup — 
so  hearty,  so  warm,  so  unaffected  and  unstudied- 
revived  my  spirit  as  wine  strengthens  the  faint 
in  body.  I  have  come  to  tell  you  that  I — I — 
linger  fondly  over  that  scene." 

"  I  do  not  deserve  such  praise,"  she  said, 
softly,  "  and — pardon  me — it  hardly  is  right  to 
receive  such  words  from  you,  knowing,  as  I  do, 
your  relations  to  Josie  Tracy." 

"  Do  me  the  honor  to  believe  me  when  I  say 
that  there  is  nothing  in  my  relations  with  any 
one  to  prevent  your  receiving  such  words,  or  any 
I  may  speak,  if  you  will  but  take  them.  They 
are  sincere  1" 

"  I  believe  you,  Thaddeus,  I  could  not  do 
otherwise  ;  for  you  have  never  deceived  me." 

"  Never,  Jennie,  unless  I  was  deceived  my- 
self. Sometimes  I  think  I  am  easily  deceived, 
and  may  have  led  others  astray  on  that  account." 

"  But  do  you  think  Cousin  Wendell  will  be 
elected  ?" 

"  O  yes  ;  the  majority  in  this  district  is  large, 
and  the  opposition  have  no  hope  of  beating  Mor- 
rison or  any  other  man  on  the  ticket," 

"  Unless  he  beats  himself!  Poor  cousin  Wen- 
dell !  I  am  afraid  drink  will  ruin  him !  Just  an 
evening  or  two  ago  he  was  here,  and  so  intoxi- 


JENNIE  /ESSUP.  S3' 

cated  that  lie  was  like  a  demented  rnan.  He 
said  things  that  he  would  not  have  said  for  the 
world  when  sober.  He  told  me  a  long  story 
about  Josie  Tracy.  Indeed,  he  said  he  was  en- 
gaged to  her ;  but  I  told  him  I  knew  better ;  that 
you  were  the  favorite  there,  and  so  on.  But  he 
ridiculed  the  idea,  and  said  you  were  '  out,'  and 
such  nonsense." 

"  Of  course,"  Thaddeus  said,  evasively,  "  you 
can  put  no  confidence  in  anything  a  man  says 
when  he  is  under  the  influence  of  liquor.  And 
yet  I  have  known  men  in  that  condition  to  tell 
the  exact  truth.  It  seemed  an  accident ;  not  a 
deliberate  purpose." 

"  And  another  thing  he  told  me  seemed  queer. 
I  wish  he  had  not  told  me,  even  if  it  is  not  true. 
He  said  he  had  been  spending  weeks  in  straight- 
ening up  Judge  Tracy's  title  to  his  property ; 
that  perhaps  the  whole  thing  would  have  to  go 
through  the  courts." 

"  Nonsense !"  Thaddeus  said,  impatiently. 
"  There  is  no  better  real  estate  lawyer  in  the  na- 
tion than  Judge  Tracy.  It  is  incredible  that  a 
man  whose  opinion  in  such  matters  is  taken  as 
law  by  everybody,  should  himself  be  the  victim 
of  a  defective  title,  or  should  depend  on  so  care- 
less a  lawyer  as  Morrison  for  clearing  away  a 
cloud." 

"  But  he  said,"  persisted  Jennie,   "  that  the 


332  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

defect  was  in  the  title  before  Judge  Tracy's  day, 
and  that  it  did  not  appear  until  he  wanted  to  sell 
a  part  of  his  estate." 

"  Perhaps  so ;  but  I  can  not  believe  it.  I 
will  quietly  look  into  it  myself.  While  Morrison 
is  running  for  office,  I  will  be  looking  up  his  title 
to  landed  estates,  if  what  he  told  you  is  true,"  he 
said,  with  a  forced  laugh. 

"  What  is  true  ?     About  Josie,  or  the  judge  ?" 

"Both!" 

"  For  years  and  years  our  family  had  trouble 
about  titles.  Of  course  I  do  not  know  much 
about  it;  but  I  have  heard  mother  and  Uncle 
Morrison  talk  it  over.  They  do  not  agree  in 
every  particular,  and  it  is  hard  for  them  to  keep 
in  good  humor  with  each  other  when  that  sub- 
ject comes  up.  It  is  so  annoying !  I  would 
rather  lose  a  small  fortune  than  to  go  into  the 
courts,  and  have  family  matters  looked  into  by 
strangers.  So  mother  says,  too.  She  is  proud 
of  her  family  name.  One  thing,  though,  I  never 
could  understand,  and  that  is  why  Uncle  Mor- 
rison is  so  wealthy,  and  mother  has  only  barely 
enough  to  keep  her.  It  seems  to  me  there  was 
an  unfair  division  somewhere." 

"  Not  necessarily,"  Thaddeus  said,  thought- 
fully. "  Your  uncle  is  a  great  man  to  make  good 
bargains,  and  his  real  estate  deals  have  been 
wonderfully  .profitable.  Your  mother,  I  suppose, 


fENNIE  fESSUP.  333 

has  been  content  to  take  legal  interest  on  her 
money,  and — " 

"  Not  so.  Her  money  is  with  Uncle  Mor- 
rison's. At  least  he  pays  her  interest.  But  why 
does  his  grow  into  houses  and  farms,  and  ours 
not?" 

"  That  is  a  question,"  Thaddeus  said.  "While 
I  am  studying  Judge  Tracy's  titles,  shall  I  look 
up  }our  matters?  Seeing  that  it  is  all  in  the 
family,  I  might  just  as  well,"  he  said,  gayly. 

"Do!"  Jennie  replied;  and  then  the  conver- 
sation drifted  off  into  other  channels,  and  Thad- 
deus found  ten  o'clock  all  too  near,  as  they  re- 
viewed together  school-days  and  after  years. 

"Well,  well!"  he  said,  rising  to  go,  "if  one 
had  told  me  at  five  o'clock — when  I  was  mur- 
dered figuratively  by  your  cousin — that  at  ten 
o'clock  I  would  be  laughing  and  chatting  with 
you,  like  a  real  live  man,  I  should  have  thought 
him  daft!" 

"Come  again — soon!"  Jennie  said,  extend- 
ing her  hand. 

"  May  I  ?"  he  asked,  eagerly.  "Though  this 
is  my  other  home,  I  like  to  be  asked  to  come,  and 
like  to  be  treated  a  little  as  if  I  were  not  home- 
folks  when  I  go  away,"  he  said. 

"  I  was  going  to  walk  to  the  gate  with  you," 
she  said,  laughingly;  "but  as  I  would  not  do  that 
with  any  but  home-folks,  I  will  stop  here." 


334  AX  ODD  FELLOW. 

"  Do  come  f '  he  replied,  taking  her  "hand 
upon  his  arm,  and  without  much  entreaty  she 
permitted  him  to  lead  her  to  the  gate. 

"  If  there  is  n't  Seth  Russell !"  Thaddeus  said, 
as  he  passed  out  into  the  street,  and  waited  until 
the  old  man  joined  him. 

"Good-night I  Sweet  be  thy  dreams,"  he 
said,  bowing  to  Miss  Jennie ;  and  then,  turning, 
he  walked  off  with  Seth,  who  did  not,  appar- 
ently, see  the  young  lady  at  the  gate,  yet,  not- 
withstanding, he  saw  and  understood, 

"  Son  of  my  beloved  friend,  the  polar  star  is 
unchanging.  Whatever  sea  you  are  on,  let  its 
light  be  your  guide.  God  is  unchanging.  With 
him  is  no  variableness,  nor  shadow  of  turning! 
God  is  love !  Hence  true  love  changeth  not. 
True  love  is  the  polar  star  of  human  life.  Son 
of  my  beloved  friend,  take  your  eyes  off  the 
moon's  fair  face,  though  she  sweeps  the  heavens 
in  queenly  beauty  1  When  the  moon  has  gone 
from  sight,  the  polar  star  remains.  The  moon 
is  friendship  ;  the  star  is  love  !" 

"What  an  odd  fellow  you  are!"  Thaddeus 
said,  impulsively,  and  reached  out  his  hand  to 
clasp  that  of  his  faithful  guide;  but  at  that  in- 
stant he  darted  into  an  alley,  and  was  gone,  call- 
ing back  impressively: 

"Remember  what  I  say,  and  mark  it  well — 
mark  it  welll" 


XXXI. 

TWO  CALLS. 

T  I  THE  office  of  the  recorder  of  deeds  of  Bratn- 
-|-  ble  County  gave  up  to  Wendell  Morrison 
some  very  surprising  secrets  as  he  was  gather- 
ing information  concerning  the  title  to  the  piece 
of  property  Judge  Tracy  had  contracted  to  sell 
at  such  a  good  bargain. 

The  same  records  were  open'  to  the  inspec- 
tion of  Thaddeus  Throckmorton,  or  any  other 
person  who  cared  to  examine  them ;  so  when  he 
began  to  follow  the  indications  brought  to  view 
at  his  first  real  search  after  the  truth — a  task 
taken  up  out  of  curiosity,  after  his  call  upon 
Miss  Jessup  the  evening  of  the  day  of  his  de- 
feat in  the  Convention — he  was  surprised  at  the 
revelations  the  musty  old  books  made.  But  the 
political  campaign  was  at  its  height  soon  after- 
ward, and  his  duties  as  editor  and  reporter — for 
he  must  be  both — interfered  with  his  searching 
the  records,  and  he  was  compelled  to  defer  full 
investigation  until  after  the  election. 

But  Morrison  was  not  less  busy,  having  calls 
to  speak  every  day  up  to  the  time  of  election. 
He,  too,  was  compelled  to  put  off  his  investiga- 
tions to  a  more  convenient  season. 

235 


336  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

His  district  was  thought  to  be  so  reliably 
certain  that  he  was  taken  by  the  Central  Com- 
mittee to  other  portions  of  the  State,  where  he 
did  efficient  service  for  his  party,  and  returned 
home  in  time  to  vote,  with  accumulated  laurels, 
and  a  dazzling  name  as  an  orator.  That  he 
had  kept  sober  during  his  speech-making  tour 
was  a  great  delight  to  his  real  friends,  and  a 
sore  disappointment  to  his  political  enemies, 
who  had  predicted  his  return  in  disgrace  before 
a  week  had  passed.  They  were  false  prophets, 
every  one  of  them. 

He  had  written  to  Miss  Josie  nearly  every 
day  of  his  absence.  He  could  not  well  avoid 
it,  for  she  wrote  to  him  every  day  a  letter  that 
was  intended  to  restrain  him — if  a  letter  could 
do  such  a  thing — and  was  also  intended  to  fos- 
ter and  develop  her  love  for  him.  She  felt  the 
need  of  loving  him  more,  it  she  was  to  be  his 
wife,  and  deliberately  set  about  to  develop  her 
love  to  a  proper  degree.  She  forgot  his  weak- 
nesses, his  meannesses,  his  heartlessuess,  and 
thought  only  of  the  brilliant  orator,  the  success- 
ful lawyer,  the  rising  politician,  the  humble  sup- 
pliant at  her  feet,  the  very  gallant  and  always  en- 
tertaining escort.  She  forgot  his  carousals,  and 
remembered  only  his  conquests.  She  forgot  his 
broken  pledge  to  sobriety,  and  remembered  only 
her  promise  to  be  his  wife.  With  the  forgotten 


TWO  CALLS.  337 

things  behind  her,  and  the  remembered  things 
beJore,  she  wrote,  every  day,  womanly  and  yet 
guardedly  ardent  letters  to  her  lover.  But  as 
she  wrote  she  caught  herself  blushing  painfully, 
though  in  the  privacy  of  her  own  room.  Blush- 
ing, not  for  love  of  the  man  she  called  her  be- 
trothed, but  because  the  words  she  traced  were 
so  dazzling  and  so  empty;  because  they  so 
mocked  the  throbbings  of  her  heart. 

"  It  is  false,  and  I  will  not  send  it !"  she  said 
once,  twice,  and  very  often  as  time  slipped  by, 
when  a  sheet  of  note-paper  had  been  filled  with 
words  of  affectionate  regard ;  so  she  tore  it  into 
shreds,  crushed  them  in  her  hands,  and  crowded 
the  mass  down  deep  in  the  silken  bag  that 
hung  by  her  desk  for  such  scraps.  But  straight- 
way she  would  begin  another  letter,  would  write 
more  deliberately,  and  choose  her  words  more 
wisely,  and  the  corrected  epistle  would  be 
mailed  in  haste  lest  it,  too,  should  find  its  pre- 
decessor in  the  dark  depths  of  the  bag  that 
beckoned  it  to  its  legitimate  resting-place. 

What  could  Wendell  do  but  answer  these 
daily  missives  ?  And  answer  them  he  did  ;  an- 
swered them  as  he  answered  all  his  letters, 
promptly,  briefly,  and  without  unnecessary  gen- 
tleness. Without  his  knowing  it — for  he  did  not 
take  time  to  think  about  it — his  answers  all  took 
the  same  shape,  and  amounted  to  the  same  thing. 

22 


338  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"Miss  Josie" — they  would  begin,  and  then 
would  rush  on  like  this,  in  a  very  clear,  but  ex- 
ceedingly fine  hand: 

"Yours  received.  Glad  to  get  it.  Did  me  good.  Write 
again.  Great  meeting  last  night.  Crowded  house.  Fine 
music, — and  a  splendid  speech,  they  all  say.  Have  no  time 
to  write.  See  the  daily.  WENJDKU,." 

He  need  not  have  suggested  that  she  should 
look  up  what  the  dailies  said  about  him.  She 
saw  the  papers,  and  was  not  insensible  to  the 
reflected  honor.  Truly  Wendell  Morrison  was 
famous.  His  speeches  were  printed  in  full  many 
times,  and  the  papers  lauded  him  to  the  skies. 
But  she  was  not  satisfied.  She  fed  on  husks. 
Her  heart  was  starving,  and  she  did  not  know 
what  was  the  cause. 

"  He  will  be  home  to-morrow.  I  wonder  if 
he  will  call  here  first?"  she  said,  musingly.  "I 
hope  so ;  for  it  would  be  very  humbling  to  my 
pride  not  to  have  at  least  a  call  at  once." 

And  her  pride  was  humbled!  Why  should 
Wendell  call  on  her,  when  he  arrived  home  to 
find  that,  while  he  was  gone,  his  hired  servants 
had  been  asleep,  and  his  enemies  had  sowed 
tares  in  his  political  field.  With  the  quick  ap- 
prehension of  a  trained  politician,  he  discovered 
signs  of  defeat  at  his  very  door.  With  con- 
summate skill  and  unparalleled  energy,  he  ral- 
lied his  forces,  and  pushed  hard  for  victory.  In 


TWO  CALLS.  339 

vain!  He  was  not  elected!  The  whole  State 
was  carried  by  his  party,  but  his  district  elected 
the  opposition  candidate.  It  was  very  mortify- 
ing. Telegrams  of  condolence  poured  in  upon 
him;  but  they  could  not  change  the  result,  and 
went  but  little  way  toward  healing  the  wound. 
He  sat  gloomily  in  his  office  the  next  day,  sur- 
rounded by  a  group  of  his  local  adherents, 
listening  with  curling  lip  to  their  explanations 
of  the  causes  of  his  defeat,  and  casting  off  with 
a  sneer  their  well-meant  but  ill-chosen  words  of 
consolation,  committing  them  all  with  angry 
vituperation  to  the  lowest  depths  of  Hades, 
when  some  one  said,  in  a  low  tone : 

"A  lady,  Morrison,  wants  to  see  you." 

" Who  is  it?" 

"Miss  Tracy,  I  believe." 

"Tell  her  I  am  busy.  Call  again  some  other 
time." 

No  need  to  tell  her.  She  had  heard,  and  she 
retreated  down  the  steps  in  hot  indignation,  her 
eyes  blinded  by  tears  of  stricken  pride.  But  she 
did  not  call  again  ;  nor  did  Morrison  call  on  her 
until  several  days  had  passed,  and  the  news  of 
his  defeat  had  ceased  to  be  a  current  topic.  That 
call  was  very  unsatisfactory,  except  in  one  par- 
ticular. He  asked,  and  she  readily  granted,  an 
indefinite  postponement  of  their  marriage,  which 
had  been  set  for  the  holidays. 


340  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

Wendell's  bearing  toward  Thaddeus  changed 
completely  after  the  election.  Instead  of  haughti- 
ness and  a  domineering  manner,  there  appeared 
studied  politeness  and  courteous  consideration. 
He  seemed  to  accord  the  young  editor  a  foot- 
ing equal  to  his  own,  and  treated  him  as  a  peer 
and  not  as  an  inferior.  The  responsive  soul  of 
Thaddeus  ran  to  meet  these  overtures  of  peace, 
and  rejoiced  that  the  Banner  had  given  Wendell 
unfaltering  support,  and  his  defeat  could  not  be 
charged  to  silent  resentment  of  that  paper  on  ac- 
count of  the  loss  of  the  nomination. 

"  It  almost  pays  me  for  what  I  suffered,  to  see 
Wendell  so  humbled  and  so  softened  by  his  fail- 
ure," Thaddeus  said,  to  Jennie  Jessup,  one  even- 
ing, a  month  or  two  later. 

"And  it  pays  me,"  she  replied,  with  pardon- 
able flushing  of  her  face,  as  she  slipped  her  arm 
in  his  and  led  him  to  the  parlor,  "for  all  I  have 
suffered  these  years,  to  see  Thaddeus  so  humbled 
and  so  softened  by  his  failure  to  win  an  heiress 
that  he  will  come  back  to  his  always  faithful  and 
devoted  Jennie,  of  school-days'  attachment." 

"Come  back?"  he  exclaimed.  "I  am  not  sure 
that  I  ever  got  away ;  though,  I  must  confess,  I 
tried  very  hard.  But  do  not  blame  me,  Jennie  ; 
that  is,  do  not  censure  me  too  strongly.  I  thought 
I  might  just  as  well  marry  rich  as  poor;  and, 
then,  there  was  much  that  was  congenial  between 


TWO  CALLS.  341 

'  the  heiress '  and  myself — if  you  will  persist  in 
calling  your  old  friend  by  such  a  title." 

"That  is  right,  my  dear.  You  are  good  at  con- 
fessing. No,  I  do  not  think  you  ever  really  got 
away ;  for,  'can  you  tell  me  how  love  cometh ?'  " 
she  said. 

'"It  does  not  come,'"  he  quickly  answered; 
'  't  is  sent.'  " 

"And,  'can  you  tell  me  how  love  goeth?'" 
she  asked  brightly. 

"'It  was  not  love  that  went,'"  he  said, 
laughingly. 

"Of  course  not;  for  yon  are  here,"  she  re- 
turned, warmly.  "  So,  now,  we  will  let  that  sub- 
ject drop,  for  a  while." 

"About  a  minute?"  he  asked,  teasingly. 

"Yes— or  a  half." 

"  But,  before  I  forget  it,  did  you  not  tell  me, 
Jennie,  your  mother  had  a  genealogical  chart  of 
her  family?" 

"Yes;  one  reaching  back  to  the  family  that 
first  came  to  America." 

"Well,  let  me  take  it  when  I  go  home.  I 
have  run  against  a  snag  in  my  search  in  the  rec- 
ords that  it  will  help  me  remove.  Now,  do  n't 
forget.  You  promised  it  to  me  the  last  time  I 
was  here,  but  let  me  go  off  without  it." 

"I  suppose  that  is  what  brought  you  down 
to-night?" 


342  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"Partly — principally,  perhaps." 

"Well,  if  you  take  it  with  you,  you  will  have 
no  excuse  for  coming  to-morrow  night." 

"O  yes,  I  will!     Choir-practice,  you  know?" 

"That  reminds  me !  Let  us  look  over  this 
new  anthem-book.  It  has  such  lovely  duets  in 
nearly  every  piece.  Mr.  Outwright  said,  last 
Sunday — you  were  not  there,  you  know — that  he 
was  hungry  for  another  duet ;  that  he  had  not 
heard  us  sing  any  since  the  temperance  cam- 
paign. Let  us  surprise  him  next  Sunday?" 

"  Good !  He  deserves  to  be  surprised.  He  is 
so  like  a  father  to  me." 

"There !  I  guess  that  will  do  for  one  !"  Jen- 
nie exclaimed,  two  hours  later,  as  they  went 
through,  the  third  time,  a  faultless  arrangement 
of  a  striking  duet. 

"There!"  Thaddeus  exclaimed,  in  the  same 
breath.  "The  clock  in  the  steeple  strikes  ten, 
and  I  am  not  at  home  yet!" 

And  so  it  was  that,  in  the  hurry  of  his  de- 
parture, taking  into  account  the  many  hin- 
drances— finding  his  hat,  his  gloves,  and  so  on — 
the  chart  was  forgotten  again,  and  the  next  day 
nothing  was  done  by  him  in  his  search  among 
the  musty  records.  But  Wendell  was  buried  in 
the  great  books  that  were  to  play  such  a  part  in 
the  affairs  of  both  Miss  Tracy  and  Thaddeus 
Throckmorton, 


XXXII. 

SEARCHING  THE  RECORDS, 

TTTHERE  was  one  thing  Wendell  Morrison 
-J-  knew  abont  Judge  Tracy's  real-estate  af- 
fairs before  he  began  the  search  of  the  records : 
that  was,  that  a  large  part  of  the  estate  was  Mrs. 
Tracy's  by  will  of  her  father.  Wendell  knew 
this  through  common  report,  and  not  from  the 
testimony  of  the  records.  In  his  search  he  came 
upon  the  will,  and  found  his  belief  confirmed 
thereby ;  but  he  found  more.  He  discovered 
that  this  estate — Mrs.  Tracy's — descended  to 
Miss  Josie  at  the  death  of  her  mother,  and  that 
a  stated  amount  of  the  income  therefrom,  a  very 
handsome  sum,  was  to  be  annually  paid  to  Miss 
Josie  after  she  was  of  age.  But  as  Judge  Tracy 
was  sole  executor  of  the  will,  without  bond,  and 
as  Miss  Josie  was  careless  of  her  rights — seeing 
her  father  supplied  every  want,  real  or  imagin- 
ary, in  a  generous  way — it  was  doubtful  whether 
the  stated  amount  had  annually  been  paid  over 
to  her.  If  it  had  not,  a  small  fortune  belonging 
to  Miss  Josie  was  in  her  father's  hands. 

"In  bank-stock,  doubtless,"  Wendell  said  to 
himself,  with  a  low  whistle  of  satisfaction  as  he 

343 


344  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

replaced  the  documents  he  had  been  examining 
in  the  probate  judge's  office. 

He  turned  from  his  investigation  of  the  will 
to  the  record  of  deeds,  further  to  trace  the  title 
he  was  endeavoring  to  quiet,  and  was  surprised 
and  startled  to  find  that  Mrs,  Tracy  and  Miss 
Josie  had  transferred  to  Judge  Tracy  all  their 
right,  title,  and  share  in  the  Lysander  estate,  the 
consideration,  as  the  record  had  it,  being  "  one 
dollar  in  hand  paid,  and  love  and  affection." 

"Fools!  fools!  fools!"  he  said,  slamming  the 
pages  of  the  huge  record  together,  and  turning 
to  leave  the  office.  He  had  spoken  aloud. 

"Who  are  fools?"  the  clerk  asked,  looking  up 
from  his  desk. 

"Everyboody!"  Wendell  exclaimed,  throwing 
open  the  office-door  in  a  vengeful  way,  letting  it 
swing  back  into  its  place  with  a  loud  bang. 

The  clerk  smiled  broadly,  and  kept  on  at 
work ;  while  Wendell  sought  the  privacy  of  his 
own  office,  and  took  what  consolation  he  could 
get  out  of  his  expensive  cigar,  as  he  meditated 
upon  how  to  get  rid  of  his  engagement  to  a 
penniless  "heiress."  He  meditated  only  a  few 
minutes,  however,  and  then  sprang  to  his  feet, 
saying  wrathfully: 

"Everybody  is  a  fool,  and  I  am  the  biggest!" 

Immediately  his  dark  face  took  on  a  more 
cheerful  expression,  and  a  smile  played  about 


SEARCHING  THE  RECORDS.  345 

his  lips.  He  gathered  up  his  memoranda  con- 
cerning the  title  in  question,  and  returned  to  the 
office  of  the  registrar  of  deeds,  quite  gayly  enter- 
ing upon  the  work  he  had  so  recently  abandoned 
in  disgust 

"  It  is  a  small  matter  after  all,"  he  said,  and 
laughed  softly  at  his  own  foolish  fears  of  a  short 
time  before,  "  that  she  deeded  the  property  to 
her  father,  since  she  is  his  only  heir." 

While  Wendell  was  in  the  office  of  the  regis- 
trar, Thaddeus  came  in,  hastily  examined  a  rec- 
ord, and  went  out. 

"What  is  Trockmorton  up  to?"  the  derk 
asked  WendelL 

"I  don't  know.  Why?"  Wendell  replied, 
carelessly. 

"I  supposed  you  would;  for  he  has  been 
tracing  the  Morrison  real  estate." 

"How's  that?"  Wendell  asked,  interestedly. 

"He  has  been  making  inquiries  about  the 
Morrison  genealogy,  and  looking  through  the 
records  for  Morrison  transfers." 

"I  can  not  guess,"  Wendell  said,  with  a  tone 
and  an  air  that  were  meant  to  convey  the  idea 
that  he  did  not  care. 

The  clerk  had  left  his  desk,  and  was  standing 
by  the  table  where  Morrison  had  a  huge  volume 
spread  out,  expecting,  no  doubt,  a  bit  of  gossip, 
or  an  inkling  of  Throckmorton's  purpose.  Wen- 


346  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

dell's  sudden  relapse  into  indifference  puzzled 
him,  and  as  no  further  information  was  given  or 
requested,  the  clerk  returned  to  his  writing,  and 
the  attorney  continued  his  searchings  in  silence. 

Wendell  returned,  after  a  time,  to  his  office, 
quite  well  pleased  with  his  day's  work;  but  dis- 
turbed in  mind  by  the  information  that  the 
clerk  had  imparted.  If  true,  and  he  did  not 
doubt  it,  there  must  be  some  object  back  of  it. 
What  interest  had  Thaddeus  in  Morrison  affairs? 
That  is  the  question  Wendell  pondered  upon. 
He  had  given  little  heed  to  Thaddeus's  visits  to 
Mrs,  Jessnp's  home.  It  possessed  no  signifi- 
cance to  him.  He  di<3,  not  know  that  Miss  Josie 
had  broken  an  engagement  with  Thaddeus  to 
accept  him  ;  though  he  knew  Thaddeus  was  not 
then,  as  formerly,  a  frequent  caller  at  Judge 
Tracy's.  He  attributed  that  more  to  Thaddeus's 
increasing  independence  of  thought  and  action, 
as  manhood  took  on  strength  and  wisdom. 
What  attracted  his  attention  and  awakened  sur- 
prise was  mention  of  property  interests.  He 
thought  hard  and  fast,  and,  after  a  long  time, 
came  back  to  the  remembrance  that  his  Aunt 
Jessup  had  not  quit-claimed  her  interest  to  his 
father.  That  remembrance  was  an  electric-shock. 

"Jupiter  Pluvius !"  he  said,  excitedly.  "  I 
will  make  father  get  that  deed  this  very  day." 

With   tr-at  lie  hurried  out  on  the  street,  and 


SEARCHING  THE  RECORDS,  347 

made  a  tour  of  the  principal  business  places, 
hunting  for  Major  Morrison,  that  he  might  lay 
the  matter  before  him.  He  came  back  to  his 
office,  a  half-hour  later,  vexed  because  he  had 
not  found  his  father,  and  was  surprised  to  see 
him  sitting  in  Judge  Tracy's  big  chair,  awaiting 
his  son's  return.  Wendell  lost  no  time  in  stat- 
ing the  case.  His  father  heard  him  through, 
and  said : 

"It  surely  is  recorded,  Wendell;  for  Judge 
Tracy  told  me  at  the  time  that  he  would  get  it. 
I  supposed  he  had  it  Ask  him  about  it,  and 
if  he  says  he  did  n't,  I  will  see  to  it  at  once." 

Major  Morrison's  quiet  and  confident  manner 
had  its  effect  on  Wendell.  He  admitted  he  was 
too  hasty  in  his  conclusions,  and  the  two  drifted 
off  into  other  subjects.  When  Major  Morrison 
had  gone,  Wendell  went  to  a  compartment  in 
the  office-safe  where  he  knew  Judge  Tracy  kept 
deeds  and  kindred  papers,  and  examined  the 
vast  collection  carefully.  He  did  not  find,  as  he 
hoped,  the  unrecorded  quit-claim  deed ;  but  he 
did  find,  very  unexpectedly,  a  document  that  re- 
paid him  for  his  trouble,  he  thought.  It  was  an 
old  deed,  conveying  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  Missouri  land  to  Richard  Throckmorton  "for 
and  in  consideration  of  one  dollar  in  hand  paid, 
and  legal  advice  and  services  in  the  case  of  The 
People  vs.  John  Thompson."  This  yellow  and 


AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

soiled  document — colored  from  age,  and  sofled 
by  repeated  handling  in  shuffling  the  pile  of 
papers  of  which  it  was  one — had  no  filing  marks 
on  it,  and  Wendell  rightly  concluded  that  it  had 
never  been  recorded,  either. 

"I  will  make  a  memorandum  of  the  land, 
and  look  it  up,"  he  said,  putting  the  papers  back 
in  the  safe.  "If  I  find  it  is  worth  anything,  I 
will  trade  for  it — at  least,  buy  Thad's  equity. 
I  suppose  he  is  in  profound  ignorance  of  this 
property." 

The  mail  that  left  Brambleville  an  hour  later, 
carried  a  letter  to  a  prominent  law  firm  in  the 
county  in  Missouri,  where  the  land  was  located, 
in  which  Wendell  asked  for  information  as  to  the 
probable  value  of  the  land  described.  In  a  few 
days  the  answer  came,  and  it  startled  Morrison 
by  its  statements.  The  land  lay  adjacent  to 
Kansas  City,  and,  the  letter  said,  was  very  valu- 
able acre  property  that  could  be  platted,  and  made 
an  addition  to  that  booming  city. 

"Here's  my  chance!"  Morrison  said,  striking 
the  desk  a  resounding  blow.  "I  '11  buy  up  Mrs. 
Throckmorton  and  Thad  before  they  know  what 
they  are  selling,  and  will  pocket  the  profits." 

Nor  did  he  lose  any  time  in  making  his  pro- 
posal to  Thaddeus.  He  appeared  unconcerned, 
and  as  having  only  a  moderate  desire  for  the 
property  when  telling  Thaddeus  about  it,  and 


SEARCHING  THE  RECORDS.  349 

said  to  conclude  with,  "  Of  course  your  equity  is 
all  I  buy.  It  would  have  to  go  through  the 
courts,  and  your  father's  death  would  need  to  be 
proven  some  way.  I  may  lose  all  I  put  in  it,  but 
still  if  you  would  rather  have  a  thousand  dollars 
than  your  right  to  this  property,  just  say  so,  and 
I  will  give. you  a  check,  or  at  least  father  will." 

Thaddeus  was  in  his  shirt-sleeves  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  composing-room,  where  Wendell  found 
him  helping  the  printers  get  out  the  Banner  on 
time. 

After  several  seconds  of  silent  consideration, 
he  began,  "  I  will  take  it,"  but,  turning  abruptly, 
gave  some  order  to  the  foreman  before  complet- 
ing the  sentence, 

"  All  right,"  promptly  replied  Wendell,  "I  will 
bring  father  up  right  after  dinner." 

"Hold!"  Thaddeus  called.  "You  do  not  un- 
derstand me.  I  will  take  it  under  advisement,  and 
will  talk  with  mother  about  it." 

"You  will!"  Wendell  exclaimed,  very  visibly 
nettled  by  this  unlooked-for  step.  "  Do  so,  if 
you  think  best;  but,  mind  you,  I  do  not  make 
that  proposition  indefinitely.  Perhaps  by  to-mor- 
row I  will  have  changed  my  mind.  Indeed,  I 
am  almost  sorry  now  I  offered  it  It  was  a  fool- 
ish thing  to  do  without  seeing  the  property;  but 
I  did  it,  and  will  stand  by  it  until  morning." 

"Very   well,"    Thaddeus    said,    quietly,  and 


35<>  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

turned  to  his  work  without  so  much  as  a  word  of 
surprise  at  the  discovery. 

Wendell  returned  to  his  office  in  a  rage.  He 
well  knew  that  Thaddeus  would  not  sell  at  any 
price  he  could  name,  if  he  took  time  to  investi- 
gate the  property. 

Wendell  was  correct.  Thaddeus  investigated 
and  immediately  declined  even  to  name  a  price 
he  would  sell  for. 

Wendell  consoled  himself  by  thinking  the  title 
would  probably  be  very  much  clouded  by  tax- 
sales  and  delinquencies  of  various  kinds,  and  in 
the  end  Thaddeus  would  rue  his  refusal  to  sell. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Mr.  Outwright 
called  upon  Thaddeus  to  make  inquiries  about 
the  Tingleman  children. 

"Who  helps  you  take  care  of  them  ?'  he  asked, 
and  then  remarked,  "  Some  money  could  be  appro- 
priated out  of  the  Charity  Fund  on  Thanksgiv- 
ing-day, if  you  think  it  right  to  be  done." 

"Thank  you,"  said  Thaddeus,  coloring 
slightly.  "  Mother  has  learned  to  love  the  little 
fellows  very  much ;  and  they  love  her,  I  am  sure. 
We  do  not  think  of  them  except  as  part  of  our 
family.  I  would  just  as  soon  think  of  taking 
charity  money  for  myself,  as  for  them.  I  do  not 
miss  what  they  require,  but  I  would  miss  them 
if  taken  away." 

Those  were  simple  words,  spoken  in  unaffected 


SEARCHING  THE  RECORDS.      35 ' 

manner,  as  Thaddeus  leaned  upon  the  showcase 
in  which  the  fine  cards  and  stationery  were  kept, 
the  minister  just  in  front  of  him ;  and  yet  there 
was  something  in  the  words,  or  perhaps  in  the 
manner  of  the  young  editor,  that  touched  Mr. 
Outwright's  heart,  and  he  said  impulsively,  lay- 
ing his  hand  in  a  blessing  upon  Thaddeus's 
shoulder : 

"God  bless  you!  You  are  an  odd  fellow;  but 
I  am  sure  the  Father  will  reward  you  for  caring 
for  his  orphans." 

"  He  does,"  Thaddeus  replied,  earnestly.  "  He 
does,  Mr.  Outwright.  I  get  back  in  money  all  I 
spend  on  them,  and  get  back  in  love  and  friend- 
ship all  I  give  them,  and  more  too." 

"  I  believe  you  do !  Well,  I  will  not  trouble 
myself  any  further  about  your  wards,  since  you 
and  the  Father  have  such  a  perfect  understand- 
ing of  the  case.  I  am  willing  to  trust  you  both, 
or  either  of  you." 

"Thank  you!" 

"Well,  I  hope  the  boys  will  grow  up  to  be 
industrious  and  bright,  and  will,  by  and  by,  take 
the  Banner  off  your  hands,  and  keep  you  in  old 
age  as  you  keep  them  now." 

"  I  hope  so,"  Thaddeus  said,  with  a  smile ; 
and  the  pastor  went  out  to  look  after  needy  or- 
phans, who  had  no  such  protector  as  this  "odd 
fellow,"  as  he  so  often  called  Thaddeus, 


352  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

An  hour  later  Thaddeus  was  surprised  by  a 
call  that  was  unheralded,  for  Henry  Tingleman 
walked  into  the  Banner  office,  and  abruptly  said : 

"I  have  come  for  my  children !" 

For  a  moment  Thaddeus  was  puzzled  to  make 
out  who  the  man  was;  for  he  was  greatly  im- 
proved in  appearance  since  they  last  met.  He 
was  well-dressed,  had  a  cleanly-shaven  face,  and 
wore  an  air  of  self-respect  and  reliance. 

"You  have  !"  Thaddeus  said,  arising  to  greet 
him.  "  Why,  Tingleman,  you  have  been  made 
over !  Where  do  you  come  from  ?" 

"That's  right,  Throckinorton,  I  have  been 
made  over,  and  I  come  from  Kansas  City,  praise 
the  Lord !" 

"But  you  are  not  after  the  boys!"  Thaddeus 
said,  with  keen  disappointment,  remembering 
how  his  mother  would  hate  to  let  them  go. 

"Yes;  I  have  come  to  take  them  off  your 
hands.  I  suppose  you  thought  I  had  forgotten 
them  and  you ;  but  1  had  n't.  I  am  doing  well 
out  West.  I  am  joint  car-inspector  for  all  the 
roads  in  the  city,  and  have  been  converted  to 
Jesus  Christ.  Praise  the  Lord  !" 

"  Tingleman,"  Thaddeus  said,  eying  him 
closely,  and  feeling  a  thrill  of  pleasure  he  could 
not  describe,  as  he  looked  upon  the  sober  and 
sincere  man  before  him.  "  Tingleman,  when  I 
last  saw  you,  you  were  a  swearer,  and  now  I  hear 


SEARCHING  THE  R&CORDS.  353 

you  blessing  the  Lord  instead  of  cursing.  You 
used  to  drink,  and  now  you  are  sober.  You  do 
not  know  how  happy  it  all  makes  me !" 

"Nor  you  do  not  know  how  happy  it  makes 
me.  Praise  the  Lord!"  Tingleman  replied.  "I 
am  not  the  same  man.  I  have  been  born  again, 
and  I  have  come  to  show  the  boys  their  father." 

"To  be  sure !  And  now  let  us  hasten,  for  I 
am  keeping  you  from  them.  It  is  dinner-time 
anyway.  How  glad  mother  will  be,  and  yet  how 
sad,  too,  if  you  take  her  boys  from  her!" 

It  was  very  late  in  the  afternoon  when  Thad- 
deus  returned  to  his  office ;  for  he  lingered  long 
after  dinner  at  home  with  his  mother,  Tingle- 
man, and  the  boys.  His  friend  had  much  to  tell 
him  about  Kansas  City.  Thaddeus  was  delighted 
to  learn  from  this  disinterested  witness  evidence 
of  the  value  of  all  real  estate  in  that  city  at  that 
time.  He  returned  to  his  work  with  a  lighter 
heart  than  when  he  went  home ;  for  the  boys 
were  to  stay  with  them  until  Tingleman  should 
have  a  home  of  his  own. 

"That  will  be  a  long  time,"  he  said,  softly. 
"I  can  not  forget  my  angel  in  heaven  long  enough 
to  think  of  another." 

But  Tingleman  ha-1  another  object  in  return- 
ing to  Brambleville.  He  had  met  in  the  West  a 
man  who  said  he  was  Richard  Throckmorton, 
and  who  had  made  special  inquiry  for  Thaddeus, 

23 


354  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

though  he  knew  not  his  name,  designating  him 
only  as  "  my  child,"  and  Tingleman  wanted  to 
satisfy  himself  of  the  stranger's  identity  before 
he  accepted  his  statements,  or  made  known  his 
discovery. 


XXXIII. 

AN  UNEXPECTED  RETURN. 

"D  ICHARD  THROCKMORTON  came  home; 
J-,X  but  he  came  as  he  had  gone,  silently  in 
the  dead  of  night,  unannounced  and  unexpected — 
unexpected  by  all  except  one,  and  that  was  Seth 
RusselL  From  the  day  he  heard  that  Throck- 
morton  was  alive,  and  had  been  seen  by  Tingle~ 
man,  Seth  met  every  east-bound  train,  whether 
it  came  at  noon  or  at  midnight.  He  watched 
with  feverish  anxiety  for  the  stepping  off  of  the 
cars  of  one  who  would  be  so  strange  as  to  justify 
his  asking  him  if  he  were  Throckmortoru  He 
came  one  midnight  when  Seth  and  the  night 
operator  were  the  only  persons  at  the  depot 
when  the  train  rolled  in.  No  need  to  ask  if 
that  were  Throckmorton !  Seth  recognized  him 
at  sight.  Who  wonld  not  recognize  that  tall 
form,  that  massive  head,  that  bearing  of  a  king, 
if  he  had  ever  seen  it  before  ?  And  yet  the  form 
was  bent,  the  hair  was  long  and  white  as  the 
snow,  the  large  mouth  was  uncovered  by  mus- 
tache, though  a  long  beard  exactly  matched  the 
hair  in  color,  and  the  eyes  were  almost  hidden 
in  the  mass  of  wrinkles  that  encircled  them,  ex- 

3SS 


356  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

cept  when  opened  in  surprise.  There  was  a 
childlike  simplicity  and  timidness  in  the  move- 
ments of  this  stalwart  man  that  belied  his  ap- 
pearance, and  that  touched  all  hearts.  His  man- 
ner was  that  of  one  lost  in  deep  study,  and  not 
until  he  was  engaged  in  conversation  did  the 
awful  truth  flash  upon  the  inquirer  out  of  the 
mass  of  bright  and  beautiful  ideas  expressed  in 
elegant  language,  with  which  he  repaid  such  at- 
tention given  him.  He  was  sadly  bereft  of  rea- 
son. He  lived  in  the  past,  with  just  enough  of 
attention  to  the  present  to  keep  him  from  acci- 
dent. His  mind  was  strong  and  active,  and  he 
would  grasp  and  hold  any  form  of  information 
while  in  actual  use ;  but  then  would  follow  lapses 
of  memory  and  failure  of  volition,  that  were  dis- 
tressing in  the  extreme.  Such  was  the  man  that 
Seth  Russell  met  that  midnight  hour.  He  fol- 
lowed him  away  from  the  light  of  the  depot  win- 
dow, as  he  started  aimlessly  down  the  street,  and, 
when  in  the  shadow  of  a  building,  he  overtook 
him,  saying: 

"  Is  n't  this  Richard  Throckmorton  7* 
"The  same,  at  your  service.     And  who  are 
you?" 

The  haughtiness  with  which  the  answer  to 
Seth's  inquiry  was  spoken,  was  in  painful  con- 
trast to  the  timid  and  wistful  asking  of  the  ques- 
tion that  followed. 


AN  UNEXPECTED  RETURN.  357 

"  I  am  Seth  Russell.     You  know  me  P* 

"  Seth  Russell !"  Throckmorton  exclaimed,  in 
tones  of  glad  surprise.  "  Seth  Russell,  have  n't 
I  been  looking  for  you  everywhere  these  years 
and  years?"  and  immediately  the  strong  man  was 
overcome,  and  was  a  child  again.  He  broke  out 
into  tears,  and  sobbingly  said : 

"Why  didn't  you  come,  Seth?  I  couldn't 
find  my  way  back.  I  have  tried  to  get  here,  but 
always  got  lost  somewhere." 

This  was  said  in  weak  and  cooing  tones, 
Throckmorton,  the  meanwhile,  hugging  his 
friend  close  to  his  breast. 

"  O  my  friend  !  my  friend!"  Seth  exclaimed, 
as  he  hid  his  own  tear-stained  face  in  the  bosom 
of  his  friend.  It  was  clear  to  Seth  that  Throck- 
morton was  unbalanced  in  mind.  At  once  he 
had  the  key  to  his  long  absence.  Sound  in 
many  respects,  his  mind  was  unreliable  in  many 
others. 

"  Will  you  let  me  lead  you  home  ?"  Seth  asked 
finally,  taking  his  hand,  as  one  child  walks  with 
another  whom  it  loves. 

"  Yes,  Seth,  lead  me  home.  The  child,  Seth? 
Is  the  child  here,  and  is  it  well  ?" 

"The  child,  Richard,  the  child!"  said  Seth, 
with  difficulty  suppressing  the  sobs  that  were 
breaking  his  heart.  "The  child  will  make  you 
glad.  It  is  here,  and  is  welL" 


358  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

"And  Alice,  Setli  ?  Is  Alice  well  ?  Does  she 
forgive  me  for  not  coming  sooner?" 

"  Yes,  Alice  is  well,  and  is  waiting  for  you. 
She  forgives  you,  and  loves  you  dearly." 

"  Does  she  ?"  Throckmorton  said,  and,  softly 
laughing,  walked  with  Seth  along  the  one-time 
familiar  streets,  heeding  nothing,  and  eagerly 
stretching  forward  to  get  to  Alice  and  the  child, 
clinging  to  Seth's  hand  with  a  clasp  that  clearly 
showed  how  afraid  he  was  that  he  would  lose 
him. 

At  that  very  hour  Thaddeus  was  in  Kansas 
City  with  Tingleman,  hunting  for  the  man  who 
said  he  was  his  father.  Tingleman  had  been 
careful  to  learn  the  elder  Throckmorton's  resi- 
dence, and  all  he  could  tell  about  himself;  but 
when  he  returned,  and  Thaddeus  with  him,  the 
old  man  had  gone,  no  one  knew  where.  So  it 
happened  that  Mrs.  Throckmoton  was  alone  when 
Seth  brought  her  husband  to  her. 

"  Here  he  is !"  Seth  said,  as  he  led  Throck- 
morton in.  Mrs.  Throckmorton  having  hastily 
dressed  and  come  down  in  answer  to  Seth's  assur- 
ance that  it  was  he  who  wanted  to  see  her  a 
minute. 

"Not  Richard !"  she  said,  standing  for  a  mo- 
ment like  a  statue,  her  hands  clasped  before  her, 
and  her  face  darkening  with  grief,  and  almost  in- 
stantly lightening  up  with  joy  and  love.  That 


AN  UNEXPECTED  RETURN.  359 

word  "Richard"  startled  Throckmorton  into 
consciousness.  With  stately  grace,  he  stepped 
toward  her  with  beaming  countenance,  and  said, 
in  tones  that  belonged  to  the  long,  long  ago: 

"Alice,  my  darling!" 

"  Richard,  my  precious  husband  !" 

She  clung  to  his  neck,  and  kissed  his  lips,  his 
face,  his  forehead  repeatedly  and  passionately, 
while  he  held  her  close  in  his  love-strong  arms, 
and  looked  into  her  eyes  with  melting  tenderness, 
softly  saying: 

"Alice,  Alice,  my  darling.*' 

Presently  he  released  her,  and  with  an  ex- 
pression that  sent  a  chill  to  her  soul,  he  said, 
moving  toward  the  stairway : 

"The  child,  Alice!     I  must  see  the  child!" 

"What  child?"  she  asked  wildly,  guessing 
the  truth,  and  yet  refusing  to  believe  it. 

"My  child— our  baby!     Where  is  it?" 

"  It  is  night,"  Seth  said,  gently.  "  I^et  the 
child  sleep,  Richard.  In  the  morning  will  be 
better." 

u  Well,"  he  replied  submissively,  and  taking 
the  chair  offered  him  at  once  became  silent,  an- 
swering all  questions  in  monosyllables,  and  fail- 
ing to  recognize  even  his  wife.  She,  poor  soul, 
sat  sobbing  her  life  away.  Her  Richard  had  in- 
deed returned  for  one  blissful  moment,  but  was 
now  gone  again.  Would  he  ever  know  her  again  ? 


360  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

Like  an  infant  they  put  him  to  bed,  and  then 
sat  down  to  watch  by  his  side  until  day  should 
dawn.  He  slept  peacefully  while  the  wife  and 
friend  comforted  each  other  in  that  hour  of  sad- 
ness, and  dwelt  lovingly  upon  the  scenes  and 
happenings  of  the  years  long  gone. 

"He  has  not  moved  for  an  hour!"  Seth  said, 
as  Mrs.  Throckmorton  put  out  the  lamp  and 
threw  open  the  shutters.  "I  was  afraid  that 
would  awaken  him,"  he  added,  and  going  softly 
across  the  floor  to  the  bed,  he  bent  down  to 
catch  the  sound  of  his  breathing.  He  heard 
nothing.  He  put  his  hand  on  the  forehead  of 
the  returned  wanderer,  and  it  was  cold!  He 
placed  his  finger  on  the  pulse,  and  it  was  still ! 
The  sleep  he  slept  was  that  which  knows  no 
waking.  For  him  the  morning  had  dawned! 
With  a  sigh  of  relief,  Seth  turned  to  Mrs.  Throck- 
morton, who  had  been  watching  his  movements 
with  keenest  interest,  and  said,  very  softly: 

" It  is  better  so.     He  is  at  rest!" 

"Not — not — dead?"  she  gasped. 

"Dead!"  Seth  replied,  chokingly  ;  for  though 
it  were  better  so,  he  felt  the  loss  of  one  he  had 
counted  as  alive  through  so  many  years  of  un- 
certainty. 

Weeping  silently,  Mrs.  Throckmorton  kneeled 
by  the  bed,  took  one  cold  hand  in  hers  and 
pressed  her  cheek  to  it,  and  thanked  the  Father 


AN  UNEXPECTED  RETURN.  361 

for  the  privilege  of  knowing  the  day,  the  hour, 
and  the  place  of  her  beloved  Richard's  death. 

"  It  is  not  so  hard  now,"  she  said,  arising  and 
turning  to  Seth  a  tear-stained  but  peaceful  face ; 
"for  I  know  we  shall  meet  soonT"1 

"Ah,  so  we  shall!"  Seth  said;  but  there  was 
no  smile  upon  his  face.  He  brushed  his  hand 
across  his  eyes,  and  said :  "  I  can  not  see  I" 

"Are  you  ill?"  Mrs.  Throckmorton  asked, 
anxiously;  for  a  death-like  pallor  had  driven  the 
ruddy  glow  from  his  cheeks. 

"I  think  not.  I  have  lost  much  sleep  lately. 
I  will  go  now  and  tell  some  friends,  and  then 
try  to  sleep  a  little.  I  will  be  back  after  dinner, 
if  not  before." 

Within  half  an  hour  after  Seth  left,  a  score 
of  sympathizing  and  rejoicing  friends  had  gath- 
ered at  Mrs.  Throckmorton's.  The  news  of 
Throckniorton's  return  and  death  spread  rapidly 
through  Brambleville;  but  a  piece  of  news  more 
startling  still  followed  close  upon  it  When 
Seth  Russell  reached  his  own  door  he  sank  upon 
the  porch  exhausted,  and  died  in  the  arms  of  his 
wife  as  she  attempted  to  lift  him  up! 

When  Thaddeus  received  the  telegram  con- 
taining the  startling  news  of  his  double  loss,  he 
was  astounded,  and  almost  overwhelmed  by  its 
suddenness!  He  had  counted  so  much  on  see- 
ing his  father  1  He  had  so  longed  for  one  word 


362  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

of  a  father's  blessing!  Taking  Tingleman  with 
him,  he  hastened  home. 

The  two  life-long  friends — Richard  Throck- 
morton  and  Seth  Russell — were  buried  at  the 
same  hour,  and  very  near  each  other.  The  vast 
concourse  of  friends  who  witnessed  the  burial 
returned  to  their  homes  to  praise  the  two,  and  to 
wonder  what  such  deaths  and  such  scenes  por- 
tended for  the  survivors. 

Thaddeus,  sorely  stricken,  would  have  fainted 
by  the  way  but  for  the  upholding  of  a  Divine 
ami,  and  would  have  died  of  grief  but  for  the 
refreshing  love  of  a  heart  that  beat  in  sympathy 
deep  and  true;  for  neither  had  she  known  a 
father's  love  and  protection. 


XXXIY. 

THE  DAY-DAWN. 

TTTHERE  is  no  antidote  for  grief  equal  to  self- 
-g-  sacrificing  labor  for  others.  So  Thaddeus 
found.  Brambleville  had  lost  mnch  of  its  bright- 
ness for  him,  since  Seth  Russell  fell  asleep  for 
all  time.  Life  itself  took  on  a  somber  hue  when 
his  father  came  home  and  died,  leaving  him 
without  even  the  consolation  of  a  single  word  of 
blessing.  And  yet  the  memory  of  Seth's  un- 
selfishness was  a  benediction,  and  the  remem- 
brance of  his  cheerfulness  inspired  to  like 
endeavor.  Thaddeus  lingered  long  over  the 
account  his  mother  gave  of  the  intense  desire  of 
his  father  to  see  "the  child — our  baby!"  He 
recalled  again  and  again  the  noble  form,  the 
massive  head,  the  striking  features  of  his  sire  as 
he  saw  him  clothed  for  burial,  and  the  recollec- 
tion made  him  proud  and  happy.  Nevertheless 
there  came  hours  of  intensest  sorrow  because  he 
had  never  known  the  love,  the  strength,  the  wis- 
dom, the  helpfulness  of  so  noble  a  man. 

He  mourned  over  the  sudden  departure  of 
his  old  friend  Seth.  He  wished  that  he  might 
have  been  there  so  that  he  could  have  told 

363 


364  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

that  indeed  "the  night  was  passing,  and  the 
morning  was  near,"  as  he  had  predicted ;  for  the 
discovered  possession  in  Kansas  City  had  been 
sold  for  a  sum  that  was  beyond  his  fondest  hope. 

So,  despite  the  rays  of  light  that  penetrated 
the  gloom  that  enveloped  him — despite  the  sweet 
recollections  that  relieved  the  sorrowfulness  of 
his  meditations,  he  walked  wearily,  and  was  al- 
most ready  to  sink  under  his  unexpected  bur- 
dens. In  his  pastor  he  found  a  sympathizer  and 
a  helper. 

"  It  is  true,  my  friend  and  brother,"  Mr.  Out- 
wright  said,  as  he  sat  by  the  editor's  table  one 
noon  hour — "it  is  true  that  life  is  essentially  a 
tragedy.  However  bright  and  joyful  its  begin- 
ning, death  is  its  end.  However  sweet  human 
companionship  may  be,  heart-breaking  separa- 
tion is  the  result.  But  be  not  discouraged ! 
Life  is  before  you !  Up,  and  prove  yourself  a 
hero  !  Your  opportunity  has  come  !  Your  tri- 
umph is  at  hand!  Rise  to  meet  your  new  re- 
sponsibilities, and  you  shall  be  strengthened  as 
your  day  demands !  But  I  need  not  thus  en- 
treat you,  for  I  know  you  will." 

"By  the  help  of  the  Master,  I  willP' 

Thaddeus  arose,  and  leaning  over  his  desk, 
gave  his  hand  to  the  minister  in  token  of  the 
sincerity  of  his  pledge. 

"Amen!"    Mr.   Outwright    responded,    feel- 


THE  DA  Y-DA  WN.  365 

ingly,  and  both  sat  down,  too  much  affected  to 
say  more  for  a  few  minutes.  Presently  Thad- 
deus  spoke : 

"Then  you  quite  approve  of  the  proposed 
temperance  meeting  at  the  Church,  with  Tingle- 
man  as  the  chief  speaker  ?" 

"  Most  heartily  !  It  can  not  fail  to  do  good. 
He  can  speak  from  experience,  both  as  to  the 
curse  and  the  cure.  We  have  had  quite  enough 
of  the  curse.  Now  let  us  learn  something  of  the 
cure  from  one  of  the  victims." 

"What  he  can  do  on  the  platform  is  a  ques- 
tion. He  is  wholly  without  practice.  He  tells 
me  he  never  undertook  to  speak  longer  than 
three  minutes  in  his  life.  But  he  says  he  knows 
his  experience  by  heart,  and  is  quite  sure  he  can 
not  tell  it  all  in  even  an  hour.  He  has  no  fear, 
and  I  do  not  know  that  7  should  have  any;  but 
I  am  a  little  afraid  he  will  break  down." 

"  Pray  for  him,  my  friend ;  pray  for  htm,  and 
God  will  do  the  rest." 

"  I  do  pray  for  him,  and  he  prays  for  himself, 
too,  every  night  at  our  family  worship.  He 
makes  a  good  prayer." 

"  But  how  long  will  he  remain  here  ?" 

"I  do  not  know.  He  has  a  leave  of  absence 
for  two  weeks,  but  he  says  the  time  of  his  return 
will  depend  on  the  outcome  of  this  meeting.  I 
have  an  idea  that  if  he  succeeds  here  he  wil 


366  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

want  to  go  on  a  lecture  tour ;  at  least  wfll  want 
to  visit  all  adjacent  towns,  and  relate  his  experi- 
ence. He  is  intensely  in  earnest,  and  says  he 
can  not  do  enongh  to  make  good  the  ruin  his 
past  life  has  wrought." 

But  little  did  Thaddeus  know  what  Henry 
Tingleman  meant  when  he  said  the  time  of  his 
return  to  Kansas  City  would  depend  on  the  out- 
come of  this  proposed  meeting  in  the  cause  of 
temperance  reform.  Nobody  knew  except  Tin- 
gleman and  his  God! 

"  Have  plenty  of  good  music,  and  keep  it  be- 
fore the  people  in  the  Banner,  and  we  will  have 
a  crowded  house  and  a  rousing  time.  Good-bye ! 
God  bless  you  Iw 

Mr.  Outwright  went  out,  and  Thaddeus  turned 
to  his  work,  hurrying  through  it  that  he  might 
have  time  to  devote  to  the  details  of  the  new 
temperance  movement.  The  announcement  that 
Henry  Tingleman,  a  converted  gambler  and 
drunkard,  would  tell  his  experience,  brought  an 
audience  that  filled  every  available  space  in  the 
largest  church  in  Brambleville.  To  be  sure,  a 
hundred  more  could  have  been  seated  in  the 
Music  Hall,  and  another  hundred  could  have 
found  standing-room  there  ;  but  Tiugleman  said : 
"  I  must  be  in  the  house  of  God  if  I  tell  my  ex- 
perience. I  was  born  there,  this  last  time,  and 
I  can  talk  better  in  my  Father's  house  than  else- 


THE  DA  Y-DA  WN.  367 

where.  God  is  my  Father,  and  the  Church  is 
iny  mother ;  so  let  me  stand  between  them  and 
speak!" 

Who  could  deny  him  his  request?  The  music 
was  good,  even  excellent ;  but  the  people  assem- 
bled had  no  ear  for  the  music,  though  it  was  re- 
ceived with  manifest  approval.  The  prayer  by 
the  pastor  was  touching  and  full  of  power ;  but 
the  people  were  waiting  for  Tingleman,  and  had 
no  thought  for  the  prayer.  Up  to  the  offering  of 
the  prayer,  Tingleman  sat  on  the  platform,  pale, 
silent,  and  greatly  agitated.  He  was  dismayed 
by  the  sea  of  faces  before  him.  He  thought  only 
of  the  people,  and  his  thoughts  fled  affrighted 
from  him.  His  breath  came  hard  and  sonorously, 
and  he  was  on  the  eve  of  fleeing  when  Mr.  Out- 
wright  kneeled  in  prayer.  Tingleman  kneeled 
too.  The  vast  audience  gave  but  little  heed  to 
that  prayer.  But  it  was  otherwise  with  Tingle- 
man.  He  followed  every  word,  and  clung  to 
every  petition,  saying  "Amen!"  in  his  heart  to 
every  sentence.  There  were  three  in  that  assem- 
bly, at  least — the  praying  pastor,  the  frightened 
servant,  and  the  Blessed  Master!  The  three 
were  enough! 

"Now,  Lord,"  the  pastor  said,  "give  thy  serv- 
ant, who  is  to  speak  to-night,  thought  and  utter- 
ance. Give  him  power,  and  may  he  magnify 
thy  saving  love  1" 


368  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

They  arose  from  their  knees,  and  the  congre- 
gation sang  a  moving  song. 

Tingleman  leaned  over,  and  whispered  to  Mr. 
Outwright: 

"You  have  saved  me!  That  prayer  saved 
ine!  The  Master  is  with  me.  I  know  he  will 
help  me  I" 

And  it  was  so! 

"My  friends,"  Tinglemen  commenced,  in  a 
clear,  strong  voice,  his  perfect  self-possession 
and  evident  earnestness  reassuring  his  friends 
and  confounding  his  enemies,  scores  of  whom 
were  present  in  the  gallery,  and  standing  in  the 
back  part  of  the  Church,  "  I  am  to  tell  you  to- 
night of  a  cure  for  drunkenness.  That  I  have 
been  a  drunkard,  all  of  you  know ;  and  a  score 
or  more  of  my  former  companions  in  sin,  who 
are  here  to-night — I  see  them  standing  there  and 
sitting  up  yonder  in  the  gallery — could,  if  they 
would,  testify  to  the  awful  truth  that  I  was  no 
common  drunkard,  but  an  uncommon  one ;  for 
I  descended  to  the  lowest  depths.  To  my  shame 
I  say  this.  To  my  shame,  and  to  the  praise  of 
my  dear  Master — who  is  also  here  to-night — I 
will  tell  you  the  story  of  my  cursed  life  in  the 
service  of  sin,  and  my  happy  life  since  I  have 
been  cured  by  the  touch  of  Divine  love." 

There  was  a  pause,  during  which  the  silence 
was  so  perfect  that  the  ticking  of  the  clock 


THE  DAY-DAWN,  369 

against  the  gallery  front  sounded  like  the  strokes 
of  a  hammer  on  a  distant  anvil.  Tingleman 
stood  with  bowed  head,  and  his  body  trembled 
with  strong  emotion.  lifting  his  eyes,  and 
steadying  his  voice,  he  went  on : 

"  But  first  let  me  tell  you  of  an  angel  I  once 
knew.  She  was  an  angel  on  earth  as  truly  as 
she  is  now  an  angel  in  heaven.  Will  you  pardon 
me  for  this  personal  allusion?  And  yet  I  need 
not  ask  that,  for  all  I  say  to-night  must  be 
purely  personal.  Need  I  tell  you  I  mean  my 
wife?  Should  I  speak  of  my  love  for  her,  you 
might  well  hiss  me  down ;  for,  though  I  wor- 
shiped the  ground  on  which  she  walked ;  though 
her  words  were  honey,  and  sweeter  than  the 
honeycomb  to  me;  though  her  caress  was  balm 
for  every  wound,  when  I  was  sober,  when  I  was 
myself — I  gave  her  a  hovel  to  live  in ;  I  stopped 
her  sweet  mouth  with  gravestones ;  I  put  her 
warm  heart  under  the  heel  of  my  devilish  appe- 
tite, and  left  her  pure  soul  to  the  care  of 
strangers — when  I  was  drunk,  when  I  was  driven 
by  devils  with  whips  of  scorpions!  Her  love 
could  not  save  me.  It  was  like  a  child  couch- 
ing in  the  path  of  a  hungry  lion !  Let  me  now 
go  back  and  tell  you  how  I  was  debased,  and 
how  I  have  been  saved." 

For  an  hour  he  talked,  and  for  an  hour  that 
audience  was  submissive  to  the  power  that  was 

24 


370  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

in  the  man;  but  not  of  him.  They  laughed  and 
they  cried,  they  cheered  and  they  sat  silent,  as 
he  told  his  story  of  ruin  and  redemption.  No 
pen  can  adequately  describe  his  conversion  as 
he  told  it  that  night  Indeed,  as  he  depicted 
the  scene,  Mr.  Outwright  exclaimed,  under  his 
breath : 

"Inspired!     Inspired!" 

And  so,  indeed,  it  appeared  to  all  when  he 
exclaimed,  in  exultant  voice  and  with  beam- 
ing face : 

"The  Great  Physician  cures  drunkenness! 
The  love  of  Jesus  alone  can  save  a  polluted  soul ! 
I  am  saved,  praise  the  Lord !" 

When  he  shouted  these  words  and  stood  si- 
lent, a  heavenly  light  falling  over  him,  the  con- 
gregation, under  the  leading  of  Thaddeus,  arose 
and  sang: 

"Jesus  saves  !    Jesus  saves  P* 

But  no  one  was  prepared  for  what  followed ; 
for  Tingleman  had  taken  counsel  of  no  person 
as  to  the  step  he  was  about  to  take.  In  the  si- 
lence which  followed  the  singing  of  the  verse 
just  mentioned,  in  the  hush  of  expectancy,  Tin- 
gleman, who  had  remained  standing,  said,  in  sad 
tones,  in  a  voice  husky  with  emotion,  and  with  a 
pallid  face  that  told  plainly  how  deep  was  his 
feeling : 

"  My  friends,  one  word  more.     I  can  not  per- 


THE  DA Y-DA  WN,  37 1 

nrit  this  opportunity  to  pass  without  saying 
something  that  will  distress  you,  I  fear,  and  yet 
I  must  say  it  First,  though,  let  me  publicly 
declare  my  debt  of  gratitude  to  Thaddeus  Throck- 
morton  for  his  persistent  interest  in  me.  God 
bless  him !  Let  me  publicly  declare  my  obliga- 
tion to  Mrs.  Throckinorton  for  the  care  she  has 
given  my  children,  I  want  her  to  keep  them  a 
while  longer;  for  I  suppose  their  father  must 
leave  them,  though  he  longs  to  take  them  to  his 
heart.  But  I  have  a  duty  to  perform.  Let  me 
do  that  duty.  Though  redeemed  from  sin,  though 
cleansed  by  the  precious  blood  of  Jesus  Christ 
though  my  pardon  has  been  signed,  sealed,  and 
delivered  by  the  King, — yet — yet —  Dare  I  say 
it?  Dare  I,  with  prison-gates  opening  before 
me,  with  a  felon's  fate  awaiting  me, — dare  I  say 
what  is  now  trembling  on  my  lips  to  be  said? 
Yes ;  in  the  name  of  my  Blessed  Master,  and  by 
his  help,  I  can  and  do  say  it,  let  the  consequences 
be  what  they  may !  Before  the  law  of  my  State 
I  am  a  guilty  wretch,  worthy  of  punishment.  I 
will  take  my  punishment.  I  am  a  burglar ! 
Judge  Tracy's  house,  and  several  others  in  this 
place,  were  burglarized  by  me /  I  await  the  ac-  . 
tion  of  the  law." 

He  turned  and  walked  off  the  platform,  and 
left  the  church  by  the  rear  exit.  The  great  con- 
gregation sat  stupefied.  The  pastor  beckoned 


372  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

them  to  their  feet,  and  in  words  spoken  but  little 
above  a  whisper,  he  dismissed  the  people,  and 
they  went  out,  wondering  what  would  come  of 
it  alL 

Tingleman  went  straight  to  Thaddeus's  home. 
The  next  day,  as  he  expected,  he  was  arrested ; 
and  refusing  bail,  though  urged  upon  him  by 
Thaddeus  and  others,  went  to  jail  to  await  his 
trial  at  the  next  term  of  court. 

A  large  reward  had  been  offered  for  the  de- 
tection and  conviction  of  the  burglar  who  had 
been  such  a  terror  to  Brambleville  in  the  past. 
It  was  too  good  a  chance  for  the  chief  of  police 
to  miss,  and  heuce  the  prompt  arrest  of  Tin- 
gleman. 


XXXY. 

MISHAPS  AND  HAPS. 

¥ANY  who  doubted  the  genuineness  of  Tin- 
gleinan's  conversion,  and  who  listened  to 
his  recital  of  his  personal  experiences  with  but 
little  real  interest,  were  convinced  by  his  confes- 
sion and  his  willingness,  almost  eagerness,  to 
suffer  punishment  at  the  hands  of  the  courts. 
They  said  he  proved  his  faith  by  his  works. 

Not  one  in  the  audience  that  night  gave  closer 
attention  to  what  Tingleman  said  than  did  Miss 
Josie  Tracy.  She  was,  in  the  depths  of  her  soul, 
a  believer  in  abstinence  from  the  use  of  intox- 
icants, and  she  detested  the  traffic  in  liquors 
with  intensest  feeling.  As  Tingleman  talked, 
she  forgot  who  he  had  been,  and  looked  upon 
him  as  only  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  principles 
she  loved  so  dearly.  She  was  charmed  with  his 
frankness,  delighted  with  his  burning  love  for 
the  Master,  irresistibly  attracted  by  his  manner 
of  delivery,  though  at  times  uncouth  and  a  little 
boisterous. 

She  fell  to  planning  how  she  could  enlist 
him  in  a  temperance  campaign — forgetting,  for 
a  moment,  her  relations  to  Wendell — and  had  a 

373 


374  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

series  of  meetings  arranged  in  her  mind,  when 
his  confession  came  like  a  stroke  of  lightning, 
and  demolished  her  fine  castles  in  the  air.  She 
had  thought  how,  at  the  close  of  the  meeting, 
she  would  go  to  him,  congratulate  him  on  his 
success,  assure  him  of  her  sympathy,  and  was 
going  to  say,  "I  am  proud  to  be  called  your 
cousin" — a  relationship  the  judge  had  never 
acknowledged  between  himself  and  Mrs.  Tingle- 
man  ;  but,  alas !  for  such  a  fair  speech  and  such 
a  late  rendering  of  justice.  The  confession 
spoiled  that! 

And  yet  she  could  not  get  rid  of  the  confes- 
sion, nor  could  she  banish  from  her  thoughts  his 
touching  allusions  to  his  wife,  and  the  utter  fail- 
ure of  her  pure  and  unfaltering  love  to  save  him 
from  drink,  and  that,  too,  when  he  loved  her  so 
passionately. 

Slowly  and  painfully  she  reached  the  conclu- 
sion that  it  was  folly  for  her  to  hope  to  save 
Wendell  in  that  way.  She  shrank  from  a  life 
that  should  take  on  a  tithe  of  the  misery  which 
Tingleman  had  said  his  habits  had  brought  to 
his  home.  The  more  she  thought  upon  it,  the 
stronger  became  her  desire  to  escape  such  a  fate. 
But  how?  What  excuse  had  she?  Not  decep- 
tion. That  would  have  done  once,  but  not  now; 
for  she  had  condoned  Wendell's  relapses,  and 
after  them  had  replighted  herself  to  him — not 


MISHAPS  AND  HAPS.  375 

formally,  of  course;  but  by  consent,  at  least. 
And  thus  the  days  went  by,  with  ever-increas- 
ing agony  of  soul.  Was  there  no  deliverance  ? 
In  sheer  desperation,  and  with  but  little  concern 
as  to  what  would  come  of  it,  yet  with  a  feeling 
that  she  owed  something  to  Tingleman,  and 
with  a  belief  that  she  could,  by  ministering  to 
him,  forget  her  own  misery,  she  determined  to 
visit  him  in  jail.  It  was  easy  to  induce  Jennie 
Jessup  to  accompany  her ;  for  had  not  Thaddeus 
been  to  the  jail  every  day  ?  and  where  he  went 
she  loved  to  go.  Together  they  called,  and 
found  Tingleman  in  the  debtors'  room,  and  not 
confined  in  the  cell  where  other  criminals  were 
locked  up. 

While  they  were  visiting  the  prisoner,  a  most 
extraordinary  occurrence  was  taking  place  in  the 
registrar's  office.  There  was  not  a  more  pru- 
dent business  man  in  Brambleville  than  Judge 
Tracy;  but  he  had  suffered  himself  to  become 
connected  with  a  prosperous  farmer  in  cattle 
speculation,  and  after  a  little  went  into  specula- 
tions on  the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade,  and  finally 
was  involved  in  a  wild  scheme  to  force  a  corner 
on  lard.  Draft  after  draft  was  sent  forward  to 
cover  margins  until  his  available  resources  were 
exhausted.  At  the  last,  his  partner  gave  a  check 
for  a  large  amount,  signed  by  the  firm  name, 
and  it  came  back  to  the  home  bank  for  collec- 


376  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

tion.  Judge  Tracy  was  director  in  that  bank. 
The  check  was  honored,  but  the  president  re- 
quired a  mortgage  to  secure  the  bank.  This 
was  promptly  given,  and  it  was  quietly  put  on 
record.  But  Wendell  Morrison  saw  it,  and  he 
knew  that  should  the  Chicago  transaction  fail, 
Judge  Tracy  would  be  bankrupt;  for  the  mort- 
gage included  even  the  home-place.  That  after- 
noon the  news  was  published  all  over  the  coun- 
try that  the  lard  corner  had  failed,  and  its  backers 
were  ruined. 

Without  the  appearance  of  undue  haste,  and 
yet  so  soon  after  this  startling  news  reached 
Brambleville  that  one  might  suppose  he  had  not 
heard  of  it  at  all,  Wendell  was  sauntering  up 
the  broad  pavement  leading  to  Judge  Tracy's 
door,  deliberately  scheming  to  provoke  a  mis- 
understanding, and  make  that  an  excuse  for 
breaking  the  engagement. 

He  found  Miss  Josie  in  the  parlor  with  his 
cousin  Jennie  Jessup,  having  just  returned  from 
the  jail.  They  were  enthusiastically  planning 
a  campaign,  when  Tingleman  should  be  par- 
doned; forThaddeus  had  said,  though  convicted, 
as  he  probably  would  be,  the  governor  would 
pardon  him  on  the  petition  that  would  go  up 
from  Brambleville. 

Wendell  listened  to  their  conversation,  and 
found  in  it  his  wished-for  pretext.  He  pre- 


MISHAPS  AND  HAPS,  377 

tended  to  be  incensed  at  such  scheming,  with 
such  a  man  as  Tingleman  for  the  leading  part. 

"Cousin  Jennie,"  he  said,  with  ill-concealed 
scoin,  "you  do  discredit  to  your  family!" 

"  Pardon  me,  Cousin  Wendell,"  she  said,  rising, 
her  face  flushing  deep  red  as  she  spoke ;  "but  I 
think  not.  But  I  will  bid  you  good-bye,  dear," 
she  added,  addressing  Miss  Tracy.  "Cousin 
Wendell  called  to  see  you,  and  I  must  go  home 
anyway." 

Kissing  Miss  Tracy,  she  went  out,  leaving 
the  two  alone  in  the  parlor. 

"Miss  Josie,"  Wendell  said,  when  his  cousin 
was  gone,  "I  hope  you  will  not  do  anything  of 
the  kind.  You  quite  forget  your  position.  Tin- 
gleman is  a  self-confessed  burglar,  and,  until 
very  lately,  a  notorious  bum,  drinking  and  gam- 
bling and — " 

"Excuse  me,  Mr.  Morrison!  Consider  what 
he  w,  not  what  he  was.  He  is  a  self-confessed 
burglar;  but  he  is  also  a  self-confessed  Christian, 
and  is  willing  to  suffer  for  his  sins,  in  order  that 
his  Christian  character  may  the  more  clearly  be 
seen." 

"Quite  true,  my — Miss  Josie;  but  let  senti- 
ment and  gush  control  you,  and  where  will  you 
end?  Though  it  pains  me  to  do  so,  I  must  be 
firm,  and  must  insist — not  to  command  you — 
that  you  have  nothing  to  do  with  this  business." 


378  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

*cYou  forget,  Mr.  Morrison,  that  we  have  not 
reached  the  place  where  you  may  command  me," 
Miss  Josie  replied,  with  flaming  cheeks. 

"  Then  you  insist  on  having  your  way  in  this 
matter?" 

"  I  most  assuredly  do !"  she  said  firmly,  her 
face  burning  as  fire  in  her  hot  indignation  at  his 
cool  dictation. 

"I  must  warn  you  of  the  consequences,"  he 
said,  with  exasperating  coolness. 

"What  are  they?"  she  asked. 

"A  broken  engagement." 

"  I  accept  them !" 

"Do  I  understand  you?"  he  asked  in  sur- 
prise, a  little  taken  aback  by  her  prompt  reply. 

"I  hope  you  do,"  she  said,  facing  him  un- 
flinchingly. "The  consequences  are  a  broken 
engagement  I  accept  it." 

"Do  I  understand  you  to  mean  that  you  de- 
sire to  be  free?" 

"That  is  my  desire,"  Miss  Josie  said,  with 
intense  earnestness.  Continuing,  she  said:  "And 
I  understand  you  to  mean  that  you  desire  to  be 
free.  I  am  not  surprised,  except  that  it  has 
come  sooner  than  I  expected.  I  grant  you  your 
request.  You  are  free!" 

"But  we  part  as  friends?"  he  said,  seeing 
that  he  was  dismissed,  when  he  had  come  to  dis- 
miss her. 


MISHAPS  AND  HAPS.  379 

"As  friends,"  she  replied.  "You  asked  for 
release.  I  granted  it.  And  now  I  take  mine, 
and  give  you  back  this  ring." 

He  took  it  mechanically,  looked  at  it  a  mo- 
ment, slipped  it  into  his  vest-pocket,  mentally 
calculating  its  worth  when  returned  to  the  jew- 
eler, and  said,  rather  stiffly: 

"I  bid  you  good-afternoon P* 

"  Good-afternoon !" 

Miss  Josie  sought  her  own  room. 

"What  a  happy  escape!"  she  said  aloud,  as 
she  rocked  restlessly  in  the  little  chair  she  had 
had  since  a  girL  "What  a  happy  escape!" 

Then,  bathing  her  flushed  face,  and  changing 
her  street  attire  for  something  more  comfortable, 
she  threw  herself  upon  the  sofa,  little  knowing 
that  she  had  indeed  escaped  a  cruel  fate.  But, 
poor  heart,  another  bitter  experience  was  await- 
ing her — the  crushing  sorrow  attending  the 
wrecking  of  a  fortune  in  an  hour.  She  knew 
not  that  at  that  moment  the  roof  above  her  head 
belonged  to  another. 

Wendell  did  not  stop  at  half-steps.  Before 
another  week  had  passed,  he  had  dissolved  part- 
nership with  Judge  Tracy.  He  looked  upon  the 
judge  as  a  crushed  man.  He  did  not  expect 
him  ever  to  rally  from  the  blow.  He  could  do 
better  alone  in  the  law-business,  and  he  was  soon 
established  in  another  office. 


AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

It  was  well.  Thaddeus  had  been  admitted 
to  practice  long  before  this ;  but  as  he  could  not 
dispose  of  the  Banner  office,  he  kept  right  on  edit- 
ing the  paper,  though  his  heart  was  in  the  law. 

The  dissolution  notice  of  Tracy  &  Morrison 
was  scarcely  in  type  before  Thaddeus  was  in 
Judge  Tracy's  office,  seeking  an  interview. 

"Judge,"  Thaddeus  said,  holding  his  friend's 
hand  in  a  tight  grasp,  "  I  can  not  forget  that  you 
were  my  father's  friend ;  nor  can  I  ever  forget 
your  kindness  to  me  when  starting  in  the  news- 
paper business.  I  hope  you  believe  me,  Judge, 
when  I  say  I  despaired  of  ever  making  you  un- 
derstand how  deeply  grateful  I  have  been." 

Thaddeus  paused  a  moment,  for  his  voice  was 
heavy  with  emotion. 

"Sit  down!  Sit  down!"  the  judge  said,  with 
unsteady  voice,  pointing  to  a  chair,  as  Thaddeus 
released  his  hand. 

"  Let  me  beg  of  you  to  command  what  service 
you  will  of  me,  and  I  will  gladly  respond.  You 
know  what  fortune  has  befallen  me.  I  am  free 
now  to  leave  the  Banner  office.  I  want  to  enter 
the  law,  regularly  and  permanently." 

Judge  Tracy's  sore  and  hungry  heart  divined 
his  meaning  at  once,  and  he  cast  a  quick  and  in- 
quiring glance  at  Thaddeus,  and  said : 

"Would  you  come  in  with  me  now^  when  I 
am  a  ruined  man  ?" 


MISHAPS  AND  HAPS.  381 

"If  you  would  let  me,"  Thaddeus  said, 
humbly. 

"Let  you!  Thad,  I  want  you!  I  am  broken 
in  heart,  in  fortune,  and  almost  in  mind,  and  yet 
I  have  business  here  for  others  that  needs  atten- 
tion that  I  can  not  give  it.  It  would  be  worth 
ten  years  of  my  life  to  have  some  one  I  can  trust 
to  take  it  Will  you  help  me,  Thad?" 

"  Say  no  more,  Judge !  To-morrow,  if  you 
say  so,  to-morrow  I  will  move  in.  I  have  already 
engaged  Ralph  Reynolds  to  take  the  Banner." 

"Come  right  along!  Come  to-day,  if  you 
will!  Stay  while  you  are  here!" 

When  Thaddeus  left,  the  judge  strode  home- 
ward with  such  haste,  and  at  such  an  unusual 
hour,  that  his  wife  went  half  way  down  to  the 
gate  to  meet  him,  supposing  he  was  ill  or  out  of 
his  mind. 

"What,  dear!  What  now?"  she  eagerly  and 
anxiously  asked. 

"Good  news!  I  have  a  new  partner,  and 
business  will  go  right  along.  Thaddeus  Throck- 
morton  is  going  in  with  me  !  He  is  not  brilliant, 
as  I  have  always  said,  but  he  is  honest  and  true, 
I  would  trust  all  I  have  in  his  hands!" 

The  judge  faltered,  for  his  voice  was  getting 
more  tears  in  it  than  he  could  manage.  Adver- 
sity had  crushed  his  heart  and  had  opened  up  a 
fountain  long  sealed.  Passing  into  his  study,  he 


AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

closed  the  door,  and,  burying  his  face  in  his 
hands,  let  the  tears  flow  and  trickle  through  his 
fingers  to  the  floor.  He  was  glad  and  thankful 
for  this  young  and  wise  and  vigorous  friend ! 

Thaddeus  gave  himself  to  the  judge's  busi- 
ness, and,  after  weeks  of  weary  work,  it  was 
settled  in  such  a  way  that,  though  every  foot  of 
land  Judge  Tracy  had  possessed,  including  his 
home,  was  mortgaged,  he  was  permitted  to  re- 
tain his  residence  property;  and  after  another 
long  delay  it  was  .deeded  back  to  him.  Just 
how  it  was  done  no  one  knew,  except  Thaddeus, 
and  he  never  told. 

Tingleman  was  convicted  and  sentenced,  as 
was  expected;  but  he  did  not  see  inside  the 
prison-walls,  for  he  was  promptly  pardoned  by 
the  governor  on  the  petition  of  all  Brambleville, 
except  the  saloon-keepers.  He  did  not  return  to 
Kansas  City,  but  spent  his  time  in  going  from 
town  to  town  in  that  vicinity  "lecturing,"  he 
said,  but  knowing  ones  called  it  "  preaching." 
Whatever  it  was,  it  was  wonderfully  effective. 
Miss  Josie  called  him  "Cousin  Henry,"  and  with 
her  mother,  went  with  him  to  many  of  his  ap- 
pointments. She  was  a  great  help  to  him.  She 
freely,  but  judiciously  and  very  kindly,  criticised 
his  speeches ;  pointed  out  errors,  and  suggested 
improvements,  until  he  came  to  be  reckoned  one 
of  the  most  eloquent  advocates  the  temperance 


MISHAPS  AND  HATS.  383 

cause  had.  She  was  very  proud  of  his  native  abil- 
ity, and  justly  so ;  and  she  took  great  delight  in 
his  manifest  improvement  under  her  tutorage. 
His  large-heartedness,  his  entire  consecration,  and 
his  success  won  her  heart  to  warmest  praise. 
He  came  to  look  upon  her  as  his  chief  support. 
Her  advice  was  always  the  best.  Her  choice 
was  always  his.  She  had  no  occasion  to  worry 
over  the  problem  of  saving  him  as  she  had  done 
in  Wendell's  case.  He  was  saved! — saved  by 
love  divine  and  grace  omnipotent! 

The  next  year  witnessed  a  campaign  that  in- 
cluded the  whole  State — every  city,  and  all  the 
larger  towns  sharing  in  the  grand  work.  But 
before  it  was  commenced,  there  was  a  quiet  gath- 
ering of  a  few  friends  at  Judge  Tracy's,  when 
Mr.  Outwright  pronounced  the  words  that  made 
Henry  Tingleman  and  Miss  Josie  Tracy  husband 
and  wife.  The  announcement  of  the  marriage 
came  as  a  great  surprise  to  many  people;  but 
they  were  thinking  of  Miss  Tracy,  the  proud 
heiress,  and  Henry  Tingleman,  the  burglar  and 
drunkard.  Thai  would  have  been  a  shocking 
union,  indeed!  But  the  two  thus  united  were 
Miss  Tracy,  a  young  lady  of  poor  but  respectable 
parents,  and  Henry  Tingleman,  the  Christian 
gentleman  and  eloquent  temperance  worker. 
Such  a  marriage  as  that  was  not  only  not  aston- 
ishing, but  was  most  eminently  a  happy  con- 


384  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

summation,  since  it  was  productive  of  untold 
good  to  multitudes,  who  listened  and  rejoiced  as 
they  sang  and  spoke,  night  after  night,  for  a 
whole  year. 

As  for  Thaddeus,  he  was  wedded  to  his 
mother's  happiness.  The  years  slipped  by.  He 
grew  in  experience,  and  increased  in  wealth,  and 
became  a  leader  in  all  great  reforms,  filling  Judge 
Tracy's  place  in  public  affairs,  as  well  as  man- 
aging his  law  business. 

As  for  Miss  Jennie  Jessup,  she,  too,  was  de- 
voted to  her  mother.  True,  through  Thad- 
deus's  efforts  they  came  into  possession  of  a 
very  profitable  piece  of  real  estate,  which,  but 
for  his  investigation,  would  have  remained  in 
the  undisputed  estate  of  the  Morrisons.  The 
proceeds  from  this  property  enabled  them  to 
live  entirely  at  ease.  Both  Thaddeus  and  Miss 
Jennie  were  happy  and  contented.  They  watched 
with  tenderest  care  over  the  mothers  as  they 
descended  to  the  river's  brink.  They  were 
nrncli  together;  for  their  homes  came  to  be  side 
by  side — new  and  handsome  residences  on  the 
principal,  indeed  the  only,  avenue  of  Bramble- 
ville.  They  had  promised  "  to  wait,"  and  they 
v;cre  waiting,  very  patiently  and  very  lovingly, 
until  the  time  should  come  when  one  home 
should  do  for  both,  and  when  neither  heart 
would  fc  2!  that  it  had  lost  a  treasure. 


XXXYI. 

A  DOUBLE  ACCIDENT. 

"["RESPITE  his  drunkenness,  Wendell  Mor- 
g»— '  rison  had  phenomenal  success  as  a  lawyer, 
and  never  lost  his  prominence  in  political  circles. 
He  turned  his  attention  to  criminal  practice, 
from  which  he  received  large  fees,  and  was 
called  to  defend  cases  in  all  courts  of  the  State. 
He  ceased  to  be  the  genteel  and  always  polite 
lawyer,  and  grew  into  a  heavy,  brutish,  and  boor- 
ish politician,  whose  claim  to  respect  rested  Qnly 
upon  his  unaccountable  success  at  the  bar  and 
the  political  arena.  He  was  despotic  and  selfish, 
and  yet  men  fawned  upon  him  and  shouted  his 
praises  on  every  occasion.  Among  his  relatives 
none  were  more  attached  to  him  than  his  Aunt 
Jessup,  and  he  reciprocated  her  affection  as  far 
as  it  was  possible  for  one  of  his  nature  to  return 
affection  in  any  degree.  In  her  old  age  she 
trusted  implicitly  to  his  advice  and  his  control. 

One  beautiful  autumn  day,  when  Jennie  was 
in  Mrs.  Throckmorton's  home,  Wendell  drove 
up  in  a  handsome  new  phaeton,  and  asked  his 
aunt  to  take  a  turn  about  town,  saying : 

M  You  are  the  first  to  ride  in  it.  I  would  not 
25  385 


386  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

let  my  own  mother  ride  iii  it  until  I  had  taken 
'Aunt  Jessup'  out  for  an  airing." 

"  Is  the  horse  quite  safe,  Wendell  ?"  she 
asked,  when  about  to  step  in  the  phaeton. 

"  Safe  as  myself,"  Wendell  said,  as  he 
stepped  in  after  his  aunt  was  seated. 

The  horse  was  a  fine  specimen,  high-spirited 
and  powerful,  strong  enough  to  draw  a  dozen 
light  phaetons  like  the  one  to  which  he  was  at- 
tached. He  was  kind,  though  so  high-spirited, 
but  very  full  of  play  as  well.  Had  Wendell  only 
been  sober !  But  he  was  not. 

A  piece  of  paper  blew  down  the  street.  The 
horse,  more  in  play  than  in  fright,  turned  sharply 
about,  overturned  the  phaeton,  and  then,  in  fright 
sure  enough,  ran  down  the  street,  dragging  Wen- 
dell under  the  overturned  vehicle  for  some  dis- 
tance, having  left  Mrs.  Jessup  in  front  of  hei 
own  house,  unconscious  and  dying.  Before  the 
sun  went  down  her  spirit  took  its  flight.  Wen- 
dell was  carried  home,  cursing  the  horse  and  the 
cause  of  its  fright.  He  lingered  several  days  in 
misery  from  internal  injuries,  and  died  at  the 
very  height  of  his  fame  and  his  power — died, 
when  he  might  have  lived  for  years  had  he  left 
strong  drink  alone.  The  injuries  received  were 
not  sufficient  causes  of  his  death.  He  might 
have  recovered  from  them  very  speedily,  if  his 
physical  condition  had  not  proved  specious,  and 


A  DOUBLE  ACCIDENT.  387 

his   recuperative  powers   had  not   been  under- 
mined by  the  use  of  intoxicants. 

*  ***** 

"Which  shall  it  be?"  said  Thaddeus,  as  he 
stopped  on  the  walk,  half  way  between  the  two 
houses,  one  evening,  as  he  and  Miss  Jessup  re- 
turned from  a  moonlight  stroll ;  for  Henry  Tin- 
gleman  had  coine  down  for  a  little  chat  with 
Mrs.  Throckinorton,  and  they  could  be  out  with- 
out leaving  her  alone  with  the  servants — some- 
thing Thaddeus  never  did,  except  at  urgent  calls 
to  business. 

"  Which  shall  it  be?"  Jennie  said,  repeating  his 
words  with  a  different  inflection.  "  I  say  neither  /" 

"But  were  we  not  to  decide  when  we  came 
back  whether  we  would  take  your  house  or 
mine  ?" 

"And  I  have  decided!"  she  said,  turning 
away,  and  walking  off  a  little  alone.  "I  say 
neither  I" 

"Pray,  then  what?"  he  asked. 

"A  new  one!  Let  it  be  ''our  house P  One 
we  both  shall  plan,  and  both  help  to  build.  One 
which  we  shall  occupy  first  of  all,"  she  said, 
blushingly,  as  she  came  back  to  him  extending 
both  hands,  which  he  clasped  in  his. 

"As  you  say,  my  queen.  But,  dear,  that  is 
so  long  to  wait !  A  year  at  least !  Even  by  this 
pale  moonlight  you  can  see  what  'waiting'  has 


3&3  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

done  for  me,"  lie  said,  turning  the  side  of  his 
head  toward  her,  that  she  might  see  the  gray 
hairs  which  whitened  the  lock  he  brushed  back 
over  his  ear. 

"  But  what  is  a  year  to  the  twenty  I  have 
waited  ?"  she  replied. 

"Please  do  not  be  so  exact,  dear!"  he  replied, 
deprecatingly.  "It  is  time  you  and  I  begin  to 
forget  dates.  As  dear  old  Seth  used  to  say,  we 
must  count  how  young  we  are,  not  how  old" 

"  Be  it  so.  Let  me  ask :  Is  it  not  the  custom 
for  the  groom  to  take  his  bride  to  his  home? 
Shall  not  that  decide  ?" 

He  put  his  arm  through  hers,  and,  gently 
turning  her  about,  started  to  walk  toward  his  own 
home,  when  there  emerged  from  the  shadow  of 
the  great  trees,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Christie. 

"  Hello,  Thad !  Ha !  ha !  We  thought  we 
would — ah  ! — take  a  little  walk — ha!  ha! — down 
your  way,  a  kind  of  a — ha!  ha! — anniversary 
parade,  as  it  were — O  !  ha ! — or  a  promenade,  I 
should  have  said." 

"  That  is  so  /"  Jennie  replied,  enthusiastically. 
"This  is  your  anniversary  1  Five  years  is  it?" 

"Ten!"  said  Mrs.  Christie,  with  a  kind  of 
triumphant  air. 

"One!  Ha!  ha!"  Mr.  Christie  said.  "Only 
one,  Thad — ha !  ha ! — if  it  is  a  day." 

"Ten  to  Mrs,  Christie,  and  one  to  you,  Mr. 


A  DOUBLE  ACCIDENT.  389 

Christie.  Where  's  the  compliment?"  Thaddeus 
asked,  laughingly. 

"It  is  really  only  five,"  Mrs.  Christie  said; 
"  but  I  have  had  happiness  enough  for  ten  years; 
so  I  call  it  ten." 

"It  is  really — ha!  ha! — only  five;  but — ah! 
O! — I  have  lost  my  reckoning — ha  !  ha! — and 
always  say  one,  to  be  sure !" 

"We  have  your  cards,  my  dear,"  Mrs.  Christie 
said,  speaking  to  Miss  Jessup,  while  the  gentle- 
men discussed  some  other  topic.  "  I  am  so  glad 
for  you.  You  will  have  a  jewel  of  a  husband. 
It  is  so  nice  you  can  go  to  your  Aunt  Morrison's. 
And  then,  will  you  come  right  home  to  Mrs. 
Throckmorton's  ?" 

"Not  for  a  year.  We  shall  go  to  Europe. 
Thad's  mother  is  going  to  Judge  Tracy's  until 
we  come  back." 

"That  will  be  nice!" 

"And  then  we  shall  go  right  into  our  new 
home.  We  expect  it  will  be  done  and  furnished 
by  that  time.  All  the  plans  are  made,  and  the 
furniture  selected." 

"  How  lovely !" 

"Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tingleman  will  occupy  our 
house — my  house,  I  mean — and  when  we  come 
back  we  are  going  to  give  them  a  deed  for  it. 
But  that  is  to  be  a  secret,  mind  you.  Do  n't  tell." 

"  Excuse  me,  but — ah !  ha !  ha! — Miss  Jessup, 


390  AN  ODD  FELLOW. 

I  may  never  have  the  opportunity  again  of  walk- 
ing with  you — ha!  ha! — not  as  Miss  Jessup.  Ha ! 
ha !  Do  me  the  honor  !" 

Mr.  Christie  bowed  profoundly,  and  offered 
his  arm  to  Miss  Jennie,  who  accepted  it  with  a 
gentle  bow,  and  they  moved  down  the  aveiiue, 
leaving  Thaddeus  and  Mrs.  Christie  to  follow, 
strolling  around  the  square  in  the  bright  moon- 
light, and  returning  to  Thaddeus's  home  just  as 
Mr.  Tingleman  came  down  the  steps,  saying : 

"  I  'd  better  be  going,  for  here  come  Josie  and 
the  boys  after  me!" 

And  so  they  were  coming.  An  animated  trio, 
indeed  they  were !  The  two  boys  had  Mrs.  Tiu- 
gleman  by  her  arms,  and  were  hurrying  along, 
talking  rapidly,  and  all  as  happy  as  birds. 

"  The  happiest  family  on  earth !"  Tingleman 
said,  proudly,  pointing  toward  the  three,  and 
striking  his  breast  softly. 

Mr.  Christie  and  Thaddeus  smiled  incredu- 
lously, and  looked  down  into  the  faces  of  the 
ladies  at  their  sides,  and  both  said  in  the  same 
instant : 

"  Except  ours !" 

"  That  is  odd !"  Tingleman  exclaimed,  wav- 
ing his  hand  in  greeting  to  his  wife  and  the  boys, 
and  continuing ;  "  we  are  each  contending  for 
first  place  in  real  enjoyment  at  home.  My  home 
is  heaven  1" 


A  DOUBLE  ACCIDENT.  391 

"It  is  odd,"  Thaddeus  said,  laughingly;  "but 
then  we  are  all  odd  fellows !" 

"So  you  are,"  Mrs.  Tingleman  said,  coming 
up  just  then,  "  or  rather  were,  before  the  boys 
and  I  arrived.  But  see,  we  make  you  even ;  for 
there  are  just  eight  of  us." 

Without  suggestion  from  any  one,  but  by  mu- 
tual impulse,  each  locked  arms  with  those  on 
either  side,  and  thus  made  a  complete  circle, 
while  Thaddeus  said : 

"  Odd  fellows  indeed  !  But,  linked  by  Truth, 
we  make  a  perfect  chain  of  Friendship  and  Love!" 


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